Enroll in Health Insurance

Enroll now! Open enrollment will help you stay healthy.

Open enrollment through the Health Insurance Marketplaces begins Nov. 1, 2025 and ends Jan. 15, 2026.

Open enrollment for 2026 coverage for Medicare begins Oct. 16, 2025 and ends Dec. 7, 2025.

Health care coverage is an essential component of achieving the AHA's vision of healthy communities, where all individuals reach their highest potential for health. Many individuals are eligible for coverage through their employer or through a public program such as Medicaid or Medicare. Others can enroll in coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplaces.

Health insurance coverage improves access to care, is associated with improved health outcomes, supports appropriate health care utilization and improves individual, family and community well-being. Because coverage is so important — and can be confusing to access — it’s critical that all community stakeholders, including hospitals and health systems, help to make the enrollment process easy and accessible.

Looking for Coverage?

Employer-based insurance

Ask human resources when your organization’s open enrollment period is and if you qualify. All full-time employees working at least 30 hours a week for an organization with at least 50 full-time employees are required to have access to health insurance through their employer. However, even if your employer doesn’t meet these criteria, they may still offer coverage.

Medicare

Medicare is available for most adults over the age of 65 and for many individuals with disabilities. For some individuals, enrollment in Medicare is automatic. You can check your status and, if necessary, sign up in one of three ways listed below. Those eligible for Medicare can choose and change plans during Medicare Open Enrollment, Oct. 16 through Dec. 7, 2025.

• Visit https://www.medicare.gov
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
• Visit your local Social Security office (call first to make an appointment)

For more information, visit Medicare.gov.

Medicaid

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are state-run health insurance programs that provide free or low-cost health coverage to millions of Americans, including some low-income people, families and children; pregnant women; the elderly; and people with disabilities. Your state may call its program something other than Medicaid or CHIP.

See whether you may qualify for Medicaid based on your income level. If not, you may still qualify based on your family or disability status, or other factors.

Contact your state Medicaid office to find out more about your coverage options or with any questions concerning eligibility and enrollment.

Individual Market

Apply for coverage through HealthCare.gov or your state-run marketplace during the annual open enrollment period or following a qualifying life event (e.g., loss of alternative coverage, getting married, or moving to a different county or state). The 2026 open enrollment period for HealthCare.gov and most state-run marketplaces runs from Nov. 1, 2025 through Jan. 15, 2026. For questions about the health insurance marketplace and the Affordable Care Act, see this Kaiser Family Foundation resource.