Covered California is encouraging all uninsured Californians to sign up for health insurance by Dec. 31.
The open-enrollment period for 2026 ends on Jan. 31, but to have insurance in place for January, consumers need to enroll by the end of the year. Covered California’s over 1.9 million enrollees also have until Dec. 31 to make any changes to their coverage for next year.
It has been a unique open enrollment with the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits set to expire heading into 2026. Since their introduction in 2021, the enhanced assistance has helped double enrollment nationally under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and by over 23 percent in California.
So far this open enrollment, 123,461 Californians have signed up for 2026 coverage as of Dec. 20, marking a 30 percent decrease over the same period last year.
Driven by record-high enrollment in 2025, overall, 1.9 million Californians have signed up for 2026 coverage, marking a three percent increase over the same period last year. That includes 1,816,067 Californians who have renewed their plans so far, a seven percent increase over the same period last year. The number of renewing consumers will be better known next month after enrollees pay their premiums, with full numbers available in the spring.
“As we get closer to year-end holidays and family celebrations, health insurance may be the last thing you’re thinking about — but being insured is one of the best ways to protect the physical, mental and financial health of you and your family,” said Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman. “This year more than ever, the Dec. 31 deadline matters — we know people have difficult decisions to make with premium costs rising unless Congress acts in January to extend the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits. As you go through your options to sign up for new coverage or make changes to your current plan, Covered California is here to help you every step of the way.”
Entering this year’s open-enrollment period, Covered California continued to see historic enrollment, with nearly two million Californians getting connected to health insurance through Covered California in 2025. Despite expiring federal subsidies that have helped lower monthly premiums for millions of Americans, Covered California remains committed to helping people understand their options for keeping or signing up for health and dental insurance.
“We know that when people are insured and get the care they need, they’re healthier and they’re able to be more successful in work, school and life,” said Dr. Monica Soni, chief medical officer for Covered California. “As we head toward the end of the year, make sure to put health insurance on your holiday list, because you can’t use your health insurance if you don’t have health insurance. A Covered California plan ensures that you receive a free, annual preventive care checkup to get a head start on a healthy 2026.”
Despite the continued progress, the latest data from the California Simulation of Insurance Markets (CalSIM) model, developed by the University of California, Los Angeles’s Center for Health Policy Research, estimates that nearly 1.2 million Californians who either qualify for subsidies through Covered California (508,000) or low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal (682,000) remain uninsured and eligible for insurance in 2026.
Further, this data from CalSIM shows that certain groups are disproportionately represented among the uninsured. Among the 508,000 uninsured Californians eligible for health insurance through Covered California, 57 percent are Latino and 50 percent are between 45 and 64 years old, and they reside all over the state.
In 2025, Gov. Newsom and the California Legislature increased state funding available for the enhanced cost-sharing reduction program, appropriating $165 million to expand eligibility. This allowed Californians with incomes above 200 percent of the federal poverty level to enroll in an Enhanced Silver 73 plan with no deductibles and reduced out-of-pocket costs.
This year, California is continuing to take proactive steps to protect its lowest-income enrollees from the steepest rate increases and reduce costs for consumers. For 2026, the state has allocated $190 million to provide state-funded tax credits for individuals earning up to 165 percent of the federal poverty level. This support will help keep monthly premiums consistent with 2025 levels for those with an annual income of up to $23,475 for an individual or $48,225 for a family of four. It will extend partial additional assistance to those earning up to $25,823 for an individual or $53,048 for a family of four.
Consumers can use the Shop and Compare Tool at CoveredCA.com to compare monthly premium estimates on a variety of plan options from top insurers, find out what financial help is available and explore all their options.
“At a time when it seems like prices on everything from groceries to gas are rising, it’s important to remember that you have options when it comes to health insurance,” said Altman. “Whether you work full time, part time, are a gig worker, retired, or are temporarily unemployed, we believe every Californian deserves quality coverage at a price they can afford.”
Consumers can learn more about their options by visiting CoveredCA.com, where they can easily find out if they qualify for financial help and see the coverage options in their area.
Covered California is an independent part of the state government whose job is to make the health insurance marketplace work for California’s consumers. It is overseen by a five-member board appointed by the governor and the Legislature. For more information about Covered California, visit www.CoveredCA.com.
