{"id":7139,"date":"2025-10-08T04:44:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T04:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/?p=7139"},"modified":"2025-10-21T15:46:39","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T15:46:39","slug":"health-insurance-open-enrollment-in-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/health-insurance\/enrolling-in-a-health-insurance-plan\/health-insurance-open-enrollment-in-california\/","title":{"rendered":"The Facts about Health Insurance Open Enrollment in California"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re a California resident who is planning to buy or renew your 2025-2026 individual or family health insurance<\/a> through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), your Open Enrollment period is from November 1, 2025 through January 31, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are important dates to remember. You must use this Open Enrollment<\/a> period to get coverage for you and\/or your family in 2026, unless you have a qualifying life event that allows you to enroll later under Special Enrollment. We\u2019ll explain those qualifying life events further down..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just know for now that if you don\u2019t have such a life event and miss the Open Enrollment period for Obamacare<\/a>, you or your family will likely go without health insurance<\/a> for 2026. In California, there is a tax penalty if you do not get health coverage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, keep in mind that the concept of Open Enrollment applies only to health insurance. You can buy life, auto, homeowners, and all other forms of insurance at any point when you need coverage.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Obamacare? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This federal health marketplace insurance program is officially known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA)<\/a> but has been nicknamed Obamacare since it was created under the presidential administration of Barack Obama. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its main purpose is to provide affordable health insurance<\/a> for Americans who don\u2019t qualify for coverage through their employers, the Veterans Administration, Medicare, Medicaid, or other free or low-cost programs. Without the ACA, or Obamacare, individual health insurance policies were sometimes too costly for certain segments of the population. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the State of California, residents can contact Freeway Insurance at (877) 583-1475 to get rate quotes for individual health insurance through Obamacare and to enroll. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What If I Have Health Insurance Through My Employer? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you have coverage through your employer, it\u2019s likely that someone in your HR department or another responsible party will help you handle your company\u2019s Open Enrollment period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Health Marketplace Open Enrollment we\u2019re explaining here is only for individuals or families who don\u2019t have access to group health insurance because they\u2019re unemployed, self-employed, or employed by a company that doesn\u2019t offer group health insurance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Does Open Enrollment Work in California?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To renew your currenTo renew your current plan or sign up for a new one, you can apply directly through Covered California or with help from a Freeway Insurance agent. Our licensed, bilingual experts can explain rate options and handle the enrollment process for you at no cost.andle the enrollment process for you at no cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll need to have the following information on hand: <\/p>\n\n\n\n