Major Life Change? Updating Your Insurance Could Help Your Health And Wallet

If you move to a new area, have a baby, or lose your job, the clock starts ticking on a 60-day window that could make a big difference in your and your family’s health — and many people don’t even know about it. 

This window of time is called a special enrollment period, and it allows people who’ve experienced life transitions to make updates to their health insurance coverage to meet the changing needs of their health. Understanding how special enrollment periods work — and when you qualify for them — may be more important than ever, as nearly half of insured U.S. adults say it’s been somewhat difficult to afford their health care costs in 2026, according to recent Kaiser Family Foundation surveys. 

Changes to Health Insurance Costs in 2026

In 2025, federal changes to health insurance led to higher monthly costs for many people. For those who enrolled in a plan on the Individual Marketplace, your monthly health insurance cost in 2026 is likely higher than it was last year. The expiration of government financial help called enhanced subsidies (also called premium tax credits) forced many people to make tough decisions about whether to keep health insurance in their family budget. 

However, rising medical and prescription drug costs have made health insurance a financial lifesaver for many. According to recent Kaiser polls, 82 percent of uninsured adults say it’s difficult to afford health care, as opposed to only 42 percent of insured adults. And three-quarters of uninsured adults say they are skipping health care entirely due to the cost. 

“For most of us, taking care of our health and the health of our families is the top priority in our lives,” said Jason Delimitros, executive vice president of government business for GuideWell. “Health is something you can’t replace. Insurance gives you assurance that you’ll be able to protect your health when it matters most.”

Across Florida, many people are struggling to balance their budgets while ensuring access to health care that’s as cost effective as possible. Understanding when you can enroll in a health plan and make needed changes to it is the first step toward staying covered and protecting your health and wallet. 

What is Open Enrollment?

Both the Individual Marketplace plans and Medicare Advantage plans have set times of year when you can enroll. During this time, individuals who don’t get health insurance through their job or qualify for Medicaid can enroll in a plan or make changes to their existing coverage.

• Individual Marketplace Open Enrollment: November 1-December 15 *Open Enrollment end dates are subject to change
• Medicare Annual Election Period: October 15-December 7

What is a Special Enrollment Period?

After open enrollment ends, the next chance people get to change their insurance is during a special enrollment period. Depending on the event that triggers it, a special enrollment period typically lasts two months. The plan options typically available during open enrollment will be available to you again, including financial help for Individual Marketplace plans. Below are just a few examples of things that can trigger a special enrollment period.  

What triggers a special enrollment period for the Individual Marketplace?

• Moving to a new county or state
• Major household changes like marriage, having a baby, adoption, or divorce
• Losing health coverage due to a job change or loss of Medicaid/CHIP

What triggers a special enrollment period for Medicare?

• The three months before and after your 65th birthday
• Being eligible for Medicare and losing your employer-sponsored coverage 
• Moving to a new county or state, or moving from an assisted living facility, nursing home or institution
• Becoming disabled may qualify you for Medicare
• Experiencing a natural disaster in your area
• If you start getting Extra Help from Medicare to pay for prescription drug costs
• If your insurer cancels your plan

“Take every chance you get to make sure your health insurance meets the needs of you and your family, because things change over time, including your health,” Delimitros said. “A special enrollment period gives you a chance to protect the people you care about the most.”