ACA open enrollment generally runs until Jan. 15, but Illinois, Connecticut and Pennsylvania are giving their residents more time to choose coverage.
While the future of enhanced premium tax credits is still up in the air, the subsidies expired at the end of the year, raising questions about affordability in the marketplace. Now, three states that run their own marketplaces are adjusting their timelines to push the deadline to Jan. 31 for coverage starting in February.
Get Covered Illinois most recently shared the update in an alert on its website. Both Access Health CT — Connecticut’s marketplace — and Pennie — Pennsylvania’s marketplace — already confirmed their extensions.
“Now that we have our own state-based marketplace, we can adjust enrollment deadlines when we believe it’s in the best interest of state residents,” a Get Covered Illinois spokesperson told Becker’s. “This extension also gives residents more time to reach out for help, if they need it.”
In Connecticut’s news release, the marketplace said it was working with officials to offer state subsidies as residents navigate plan options. The state committed $70 million to offset the expiring ones in 2026.
Pennie Executive Director Devon Trolley echoed affordability concerns. The state’s ACA enrollment has been on the decline since the expiration.
“Due to federal changes, costs are increasing but many Pennsylvanians still qualify for financial savings and now is the time to act,” she said. “Enrolling in health coverage before the deadline can ensure you are not only protecting your health in 2026 but also protecting your financial wellbeing should something unexpected occur.”
