January 15th Deadline for Insurance on HealthCare.gov
This Thursday, January 15th is the last day to sign up for insurance for 2026 on HealthCare.gov!
We want to emphasize that there is still financial assistance available for these health plans! The extra tax credits that Congress started in 2021 have now ended — and we're still calling on Congress to step up and extend them. But in the meantime, the original tax credits that have always been part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are still in place. In other words, you may still be able to find a very affordable plan, but you have to move fast!
Here are a few more details to keep in mind:
There are a few exceptions to the Thursday deadline. You may be able to sign up for coverage during the year if you have a "qualifying life event," such as losing health insurance or having a baby, later in the year.
Need assistance understanding your options? Help is available! Applicants who are unsure about which plan to pick or how plans work can reach out to a local ACA Navigator or Certified Application Counselor for guidance. (Hint: To get free, unbiased advice about your options, click on the tab for “Assisters” — not “All” or “Agents/Brokers.”)
All HealthCare.gov plans cover preventive care at no cost to enrollees. Even people who sign up for plans with high deductibles can get preventive care for no cost.
Look at Gold, Silver, and Bronze plans. Gold or Silver plans cost more per month than Bronze plans because they cover more of your day-to-day costs for copays, medications, and treatments. If you have a Gold or Silver plan but it isn’t the right fit for you anymore, you can switch to a Bronze plan when you sign up this year. Under a Bronze plan, you will pay less in monthly premiums, but you generally will have higher medical bills because Bronze plans have higher deductibles. However, some Bronze plans will give you more assistance covering those bills by only charging you a copay — rather than handing you the full bill to pay — for some doctor visits or medications, even if you haven’t reached your deductible yet. You can filter for those plans by selecting “Add filters” then “Bronze” and searching for Bronze plans that list out copays. (Hint: Always be sure to review plans’ Summaries of Benefits and Coverage to see full plan details.)
If you get your coverage outside of HealthCare.gov, look out for junk insurance. Insurance from HealthCare.gov is typically more expensive because it guarantees coverage for medically necessary treatment, regardless of preexisting conditions, and protects against major medical debt. On the other hand, short-term plans, limited duration plans, and health care sharing plans — often called junk insurance — are unregulated and offer none of the guarantees or protections of actual health insurance.
Make sure you have the insurance you need to protect your health and avoid a pile of medical bills in 2026!