Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), each state has the option to run its own health insurance marketplace, or to use the federally facilitated one through HealthCare.gov. As of 2025, some states operate fully state-run marketplaces with their own websites, deadlines, and plan offerings—while others rely on the federal government’s platform.

State-Based Marketplaces vs. Federally Facilitated Marketplaces

When the ACA was passed in 2010, it gave states the opportunity to build and manage their own health insurance exchanges. If a state declined, the federal government would step in and provide ACA-compliant plans through HealthCare.gov.

Today:

• 20 states (plus Washington, D.C.) run their own marketplaces

• 3 states use the federal platform for enrollment, but manage their own backend operations

• The remaining 28 states use the federally facilitated marketplace

State-based marketplaces allow local governments more control over how plans are regulated, priced, and promoted. They can also set their own Open Enrollment Period (OEP) dates, which is helpful for residents who need more time to enroll.

States That Operate Their Own Health Insurance Exchanges (2025)

Here are the states that currently operate their own health insurance marketplaces, along with their platform names:

• California – Covered California

• Colorado – Connect for Health Colorado

• Connecticut – Access Health CT

• District of Columbia (D.C.) – DC Health Link

• Idaho – Your Health Idaho

• Maryland – Maryland Health Connection

• Massachusetts – Massachusetts Health Connector

• Minnesota – MNsure

• Nevada – Nevada Health Link

• New Jersey – Get Covered NJ

• New York – NY State of Health

• Pennsylvania – Pennie

• Rhode Island – HealthSource RI

• Vermont – Vermont Health Connect

• Washington – Washington Healthplanfinder

Each of these states may offer unique plan choices, local insurer options, and extended enrollment deadlines beyond the federal window.

When Is Open Enrollment for ACA Plans in 2025?

The federal Open Enrollment Period for 2025 coverage is expected to run from November 1, 2024 through January 15, 2025. However, some state-run marketplaces set their own deadlines and may offer enrollment extensions.

What If You Miss Open Enrollment?

If you don’t enroll during the Open Enrollment Period and don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP), you may have to wait until the next OEP begins in late 2025. Here’s what happens if you don’t take action before the deadline.

Common SEP triggers include:

• Loss of other coverage

• Marriage or divorce

• Birth or adoption of a child

• Moving to a new ZIP code or state

Why Does It Matter Who Runs Your Marketplace?

If your state uses a state-based marketplace, your:

• Enrollment dates may be longer or more flexible

• Health insurance plan options may be broader or include regional carriers

• Application process may take place on a different website (not HealthCare.gov)

Looking for Health Insurance?

The best way to get the right plan for your needs is by working with a licensed health insurance agent. At EZ, our team:

• Works with top-rated insurance companies in every state

• Can help you access premium subsidies and tax credits

• Will walk you through all your health insurance options—federal and state-based

• Does all the heavy lifting for you—at no cost

To get free instant quotes, simply enter your ZIP code in the bar above, or to speak to a local agent, call 855-677-0157.

When it comes to your health insurance, Open Enrollment is the most important time of the year. This is the time that you’ll be able to change your plan, or enroll in a new one that better suits your needs and saves you money. It’s imperative that you know when the Open Enrollment Period (OEP) starts and how long it lasts so that you don’t miss out! If you do miss the OEP, you may have to wait an entire year in order to make changes, that is unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). With all that being said, it’s super important to act before the deadline and avoid waiting until the last minute. To help you on this endeavor, we’ve outlined the key OEP dates for every state, to ensure you have ample time to get enrolled!

The 2025 OEP begins November 1st, 2024 in most states, and since changes to the OEP last year, it generally runs through January 15th in most states. Some states, though, have extended their OEP a little longer. Take a look at the following so you know when your state’s OEP begins and when it ends.

States With January 15th Deadlines

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas 
• Utah
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming
  

States with Different OEP Dates

Some states with their own ACA exchanges have different date ranges for the 2025 Open Enrollment Period. The chart below shows the State Enrollment Period (SEP) and OEP dates for these states; other states have not yet announced their dates (these are also listed below).

Looking For Affordable Health Insurance?

The health insurance 2025 Open Enrollment Period is open from November 1 until January 15 (depending on your state), so now is the perfect time to reconsider getting a health insurance plan, or looking into your current one and making sure it’s got you covered. And if your plan doesn’t cover everything you need it to, it’s time to find a plan that does, so you can save as much money as possible. 

If you’re shopping for a plan, your best bet is to speak to a licensed EZ agent. Our agents work with the top-rated insurance companies in the nation, so we can compare plans in minutes. We will not only find a plan that has all the benefits you’re looking for, but we will also make sure the plan meets your financial needs. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a local agent, call 888-694-0047. No obligation.

When Is The Annual Open Enrollment Period?

The Open Enrollment Period is the one time of the year that you can buy or change your health insurance; if you do not buy health insurance during the Open Enrollment Period, you will have to wait until the following year to do so, unless you experience a qualifying life event. 

The Federal Open Enrollment Period starts on November 1st and ends December 15, which gives you just about six weeks to choose a health insurance plan and sign up for one. However, some states have permanently extended their Open Enrollment Period until January 15th or 31st, with coverage beginning February 1st.

Am I Eligible To Enroll In Marketplace Health Insurance?

To be eligible to enroll in ACA Marketplace health insurance, you must:

• Be between the ages of 18 and 64
• Live in the United States
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Not currently be incarcerated

What Changes Can I Make During Open Enrollment?

If you currently have a health insurance plan, you will receive an annual notice of change (ANOC) letter in the mail prior to Open Enrollment; you’ll need to carefully review this because there might be changes being made to the price or coverage of your plan. But if your plan is not changing and you are happy with it, you will be automatically re-enrolled for next year. 

If you are unhappy with your health insurance plan, you can switch to a new one, but you will have to review all of the plans in your area, including new ones that might have been added. If you don’t review plans in your area during the Open Enrollment Period, you won’t know if there is a better plan for you; the best way to do this is by working with one of EZ’s licensed local agents, who can compare plans easily for you in minutes.

What If I Miss The Open Enrollment Period?

If you miss the Open Enrollment Period, your choices will be very limited until next year’s Open Enrollment Period, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. To qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP), you’ll need to have experienced one of the following qualifying life events:

•  Getting married or divorced
•  Death of a spouse or policyholder 
•  The birth or adoption of a child
•  Loss of health insurance coverage
•  Moving to a new area where the health plans are different from what you currently have

If you are looking for health insurance temporarily until the next Open Enrollment Period, you have the option of short-term health insurance, which will cover you for up to 36 months, but this type of plan has limited coverage. 

Can I Afford Health Insurance?

The first thing you should do if you’re looking to save money is work with an agent who can compare plans for you and find one that fits your budget. Next, check to see if you qualify for subsidies, such as premium tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies. Premium subsidies are available in every state, and help make health insurance more affordable. Eligibility for subsidies is based on your household income; it’s definitely worth checking to see if you qualify, since President Biden recently extended premium subsidies to millions of Americans, making them easier to get, even for those with an income of 400% of the federal poverty level or higher.

How Do I Find A Plan?

If you have any further questions, or need help finding a plan during the Open Enrollment Period, an EZ agent can help you. We will provide you with a local licensed agent who will search all available plans in your area and find the best one for your medical and financial needs. We will also double check to see if you qualify for any subsidies to save you even more money. All of our services are done in minutes and at no cost to you. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a local license agent call 855-677-0157.

Reasons To Switch Plans

There are a number of reasons why you might want to switch plans during the Open Enrollment Period, including:

• Changes to your plan’s network– Every year, there will be changes made to your health insurance plan, including to your network of doctors and specialists. This means doctors that you might have been going to for a long time might no longer be in your network, and if you choose to continue seeing them, you will have to pay a lot more out-of-pocket.
• You are moving–  If you are moving, your current health insurance plan might not work in the area you are moving to, so you will have to find a new plan and doctor. 
• Your family situation has changed– If you are adding a family member to your plan or if you have lost a family member, you’ll need a plan with more or less coverage.
• You’re not happy with your coverage– If you’re looking to save some money, you might want to look for a plan with less coverage, or if you feel that your plan doesn’t offer enough coverage for you and your family, you’ll want to look for one with more benefits.

Things To Keep In Mind When Switching Plans 

Before you make a decision to switch plans, there are a few things that you have to consider. When looking for a plan that is right for you, focus on:

• All of the costs associated with each plan– You’ll need to take into consideration not just  the price of each plan’s monthly premiums, but also the deductibles, co-pays, and coinsurance that you’ll be responsible for paying out-of-pocket.
• The network– Do you have a particular doctor who you want to continue seeing? Make sure that you review each network’s plan, so you will know if your doctors are covered.
• The coverage– Each plan will cover services differently: for example, some will not cover a medical procedure or drug, while others might cover it completely. You need to determine what you need covered, as well as review the preventive care services, prescription drug formulary, and other coverage associated with each plan.

How To Switch Plans

The best way to find a plan that suits your needs is by working with a licensed agent who is familiar with all the plans in your area, and who can go over any changes to your plan, like increases to your premiums, with you. EZ offers personal agents who will compare all available plans in your area and even help you switch plans for free – they will even take care of all the little details of switching and making sure everything is all set with your new plan, like notifying your current health insurance company that you are moving on.

Our agents work with the top-rated insurance companies in the country, so they have quick and easy access to all plans in your area. They will go over your medical and financial needs, and then compare all plans, including their coverage, premiums, deductibles, and other costs associated with each plan. We will help you find an affordable plan, and maybe even lower your health insurance costs! To compare plans in your area for free, enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to one of our highly trained, licensed agents, call 855-677-0157.