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If you’re planning to enroll in health insurance for yourself or your family, it’s important to know who manages your state’s health insurance exchange—because it can affect how and when you enroll, what plan options are available, and what subsidies you may qualify for.

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 888-350-1890.

Not convinced small business coverage is worth it? Find out why we think it is.

1. It’s Cake.

As a business owner, your greatest currency is time. So the last thing you want is to waste that on looking for the right group plan.

When you hire an agent, you hire a full-time tour guide committed to navigating you through the selection process. With demographics, health concerns, and company size to consider, there are plenty of factors that must be included in your final decision. An agent can explain the nitty-gritty details of selecting a plan that fits your company’s needs, instead of you spending an unbelievable amount of time trying to digest the vast sea of information. Consider them

Cartoon of a man in a suit sitting on a chair with papers in his hand, with another hand in the picture giving paperwork to man sitting down. — *An agent can explain the nitty-gritty details of selecting a plan that fits your company’s needs, instead of you spending a large amount of time trying to figure it all out*

your “sparknotes” of insurance plans.

This connection is 1-to-1, because trust us – we hate spam calls as much as you do.

Connect With a Personal Agent Now

2. Less Money (From You), Less Problems.

One of the biggest misconceptions about purchasing insurance is the hefty price tag that comes along with it. And that can be true, if you go about the process in the wrong way. So we’re here to dispel that myth.

Compared to individual health insurance, high costs of one insured person have a smaller effect in a larger pool – in other words, more people are paying to support the few who use the benefits of being covered to their full extent.

With comparison shopping, you avoid that. You are guaranteed to find the right plan at an affordable price. You can contribute nothing to a plan – and it will still be beneficial for your employees. No risk is necessary.

It is important to keep in mind that you are not only the owner of your company; you are the owner of the plan selection.

Checking out your options is a great place to start.

3. “I Want YOU To Buy Health Insurance!”

Little figurines of people passing money to each other from a pile down a line towrds a yellow piggy bank. — *You end up saving money by offering employees group insurance. Employer contributions are tax-deductible, employer payroll taxes are reduced by 7.65% of employee contributions, and more!*

If you still don’t believe in the affordability of group health coverage, consider this – it’s on Uncle Sam. Two words for you: Tax. Benefits.

Here are the tax savings you get by offering group health insurance:

Employer contributions are tax-deductible
Employer payroll taxes are reduced by 7.65% of employee contributions
Employer workers compensation premiums are reduced
No payroll taxes and workers compensation premiums on money used towards health benefits.

And here are the tax savings your employees get by receiving group health insurance:

When employees buy health insurance on their own, they have to use post-tax dollars to buy it. They make money, the government taxes that money, and then they take the remaining amount to buy what they need.
When employees buy health insurance through a group plan, they pay for the insurance with pre-tax dollars. That can save them up to 30 to 45% on their health insurance premiums.

4. Healthy Employees = Happy Employees

You might not be able to buy the Beatles’ love, but you can buy your employees’.

Studies show that small business health insurance plans increase employee loyalty and decrease turnover. There’s scientific proof that purchasing insurance for your employees can increase retention and aid in recruitment. Mic drop.

In all seriousness, health insurance is a big deal for both employees and job seekers. For some, it’s even the deciding

factor between job offers.

A group of employees standing in a circle with their hands on top of one another. Camera view is looking up at their palms. — *Healthy employees means less visits, less appointments, and less sick days. What this means is more productivity in the workplace.*

Providing health insurance, despite not being a large corporate powerhouse, shows how much you value your potential and current employees. Which – if you’re a good boss – is a lot.

5. And Happy Employees = Happy Boss

You can imagine that an employee with a burst appendix or an inflamed wisdom tooth might be a little distracted when calculating the day’s revenue. But only a little.

Employees who aren’t provided health insurance have an increased likelihood of avoiding doctor appointments or hospital visits. In short, they have an increased likelihood of being unhealthy.

Additionally, healthy employees means less visits, less appointments, and less sick days. If you focus on “saving money” at the cost of your employees’ health, we’re tellin’ ya, it’s just going to come back and bite you in the bottom.

Or your bottom line.

6. The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Cobra isn’t just a snake.

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) is a health insurance program that allows an eligible employee and his or her dependents the continued benefits of health insurance coverage in the case that employee loses his or her job or experiences a reduction of work hours.

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Which States Run Their Own Health Insurance Exchanges?