Florida has no state exchange
Some states run their own health insurance exchange with their own deadlines. Florida does not. Floridians use the federal Marketplace at HealthCare.gov, which means the federal dates and rules apply without state variation.
That matters when you read advice online: guidance written for California or New York may quote deadlines that do not apply here.
Two deadlines, not one
Open enrollment is the window in which anyone can buy a Marketplace plan without needing a qualifying life event. Inside it there are two dates that do different things, and conflating them is the most common and most expensive mistake.
| If you enroll | Coverage starts | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 1 November to 15 December | 1 January | No gap in coverage |
| 16 December to 15 January | 1 February | You are uninsured during January |
| After 15 January | You cannot enroll | Only with a Special Enrollment Period |
Why you may have read 15 December
A 2025 federal rule would have ended open enrollment on 15 December and removed the January window entirely. A federal court blocked much of that rule during 2026, and HealthCare.gov continues to publish 15 January as the closing date.
A great deal of published guidance, including earlier versions of pages on this site, carried the shorter window because it was accurate when written. If you see 15 December described as the final deadline, check it against HealthCare.gov before acting on it.
What to have ready
A Marketplace application asks for the household that appears on your tax return, not the people in your house, and for the income you expect in the coverage year, not last year’s.
- Everyone on your federal tax return, with dates of birth and Social Security numbers.
- Your best estimate of household income for the coverage year.
- Details of any coverage offered to you through a job, including what the employee-only plan would cost you.
- Immigration document numbers for any applicant who has them.
- Your prescriptions and your doctors, so you can compare plans on more than premium.
Frequently asked questions
When is ACA open enrollment in Florida?
Florida uses HealthCare.gov, where open enrollment runs 1 November to 15 January. Enroll by 15 December for coverage starting 1 January; enroll between 16 December and 15 January and coverage starts 1 February.
Does Florida have its own health insurance exchange?
No. Florida uses the federal Marketplace at HealthCare.gov, so the federal deadlines and rules apply. Advice written for states that run their own exchange may quote different dates.
What income should I put on the application?
The income you expect for the year the coverage applies to, for everyone on your tax return. Using last year figure is the most common cause of having to repay part of the subsidy at tax time.
Can I enroll outside open enrollment?
Only with a Special Enrollment Period, which is opened by a qualifying life event such as losing other coverage, moving, marriage or the birth of a child. Without one, you generally wait for the next open enrollment.
Sources
This guide explains officially published rules and figures. It is not an insurance quote and not an eligibility determination. Only HealthCare.gov, Medicare.gov, Social Security or the carrier can determine your eligibility and your actual price.
Want this checked against your situation?
A guide explains the rules. Vivian checks what applies to you — your county, your doctors, your medications — in English or Spanish, at no cost to you.