Short-term health plans look like a bargain until the end date arrives. In 2026, a short-term plan ending is one of the most misunderstood moments in health insurance, because most people assume it works like losing job-based coverage. It does not. HealthCare.gov treats short-term limited-duration insurance as coverage that is not minimum essential coverage, so its expiration is not a qualifying life event for the Marketplace. KFF confirms that people who lose a short-term policy during the year generally must wait for the next ACA Open Enrollment to buy a plan that cannot turn them down. That makes your calendar the most important tool you have. For 2027 coverage, Open Enrollment opens November 1, 2026. HealthCare.gov plans selected by December 15, 2026 begin January 1, 2027, and the window closes January 15, 2027. If your plan ends before January 1, you need a bridge or a different eligibility path such as Medicaid, an employer plan, or another qualifying life event.
Federal rules for short-term plans have also shifted, which affects how long yours may have lasted. The 2024 federal rule capped new short-term plans at 3 months per term and 4 months total, effective for policies sold on or after September 1, 2024. In August 2025, the Departments of Labor, Treasury, and HHS announced they would not prioritize enforcement of that definition while they pursue new rulemaking, so some insurers again sell longer terms in 2026. State law still decides what is on sale where you live. Fourteen states plus DC, including California, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, have no short-term plans available. This guide walks through six steps to move from a short-term plan to ACA, Medicaid, or employer coverage, compares every option with 2026 costs, and lists the documents and state rules that matter. Check the glossary entry on the special enrollment period and the open enrollment period to see how these windows fit together.
6 Steps to Get Coverage
Common Mistakes That Cost People Thousands
Five mistakes cost short-term plan holders the most money and coverage in 2026:
- Assuming the plan ending opens a 60-day Special Enrollment Period. HealthCare.gov does not treat short-term coverage as minimum essential coverage, so you generally wait for Open Enrollment.
- Waiting until January 2027 to enroll. Selecting a plan after December 15, 2026 means coverage starts later than January 1, 2027, leaving a longer gap.
- Renewing another short-term plan without checking pre-existing conditions. A new short-term application can be denied if you developed a condition during your first term.
- Skipping the Medicaid and CHIP check. Both accept applications year-round, and a household of 1 earning under $22,025 in 2026 may qualify in expansion states.
- Ignoring the employer option. Termination of short-term coverage typically triggers a special enrollment right in a group plan, but the window is only about 30 days.
Why a Short-Term Plan Ending Is Not a Qualifying Life Event in 2026
Marketplace Special Enrollment Periods exist for people who lose minimum essential coverage, and short-term limited-duration insurance is excluded from that definition. As a result, HealthCare.gov does not list the expiration, cancellation, or non-renewal of a short-term plan among its qualifying life events. KFF's guidance for consumers considering short-term policies states the consequence plainly: if you lose the policy during the year, you generally cannot switch to an ACA plan until Open Enrollment. Two narrow exceptions matter. First, employer group plans follow HIPAA special enrollment rules, so ending a short-term plan typically opens a window of about 30 days to join your own or a spouse's employer plan. Second, a separate qualifying life event such as a move to a new ZIP code, marriage, birth, adoption, or loss of Medicaid opens a 60-day Marketplace SEP regardless of your short-term plan. For 2027 coverage, Open Enrollment runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov, and December 15, 2026 is the deadline for a January 1, 2027 start.
Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility When a Short-Term Plan Ends in 2026
Medicaid is the one pathway that ignores the Open Enrollment calendar, so households that cannot wait for November should check it first. In the 40 expansion states plus DC, adults qualify at income under 138% of the Federal Poverty Level, which is $22,025 for one person and $45,540 for a family of 4 in 2026 per HHS ASPE. State programs go by local names: Medi-Cal in California, AHCCCS in Arizona, BadgerCare in Wisconsin, MassHealth in Massachusetts, HUSKY Health in Connecticut, and NJ FamilyCare in New Jersey. The 10 non-expansion states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming) apply stricter adult limits, so a Marketplace plan with 2026 premium tax credits may be the better route there. Children often qualify even when parents do not: CHIP covers kids at income up to 200% to 300% FPL in most states, with AllKids in Illinois and Medi-Cal for Kids in California. Apply at healthcare.gov or through medicaid.gov links to your state agency, with no waiting for a window.
Federal and State Short-Term Plan Rules in 2026
Federal short-term plan rules changed twice in two years, which explains why plan lengths differ so widely in 2026. The April 2024 final rule limited new policies sold on or after September 1, 2024 to an initial term of 3 months and 4 months total with renewals. In August 2025, the Departments of Labor, Treasury, and HHS stated they would not prioritize enforcement of that definition while pursuing new rulemaking, and some carriers again offer terms up to 36 months in states that allow them. Federal non-enforcement does not override state law. According to healthinsurance.org, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and DC have no short-term plans available in 2026. Maine and Washington also prohibit enrollment during ACA Open Enrollment. Before renewing or buying a bridge plan, confirm with your state department of insurance that the policy is lawful and review the exclusions, because short-term plans can deny pre-existing conditions, skip essential health benefits, and carry no out-of-pocket cap.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the enrollment window when my short-term plan ends?
Ending a short-term plan does not open a 60-day Special Enrollment Period for an ACA plan in 2026. Your main window is Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage, November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. Choose a plan by December 15, 2026 for coverage starting January 1, 2027. If you join an employer plan, a HIPAA special enrollment window of about 30 days typically applies. Medicaid and CHIP accept applications year-round with no deadline. If you have a separate qualifying life event such as a move or marriage, a 60-day Marketplace SEP applies from that event.
How do I document that my short-term plan is ending?
Ask your insurer for a written termination notice or certificate of coverage showing the end date. Employer plans typically request this letter when you use HIPAA special enrollment, so keep a copy. For the Marketplace Open Enrollment, no proof of the short-term plan is required, but you do need Social Security numbers, projected 2027 income documents such as pay stubs, and your address. If you claim a different qualifying life event, upload that proof: a lease for a move, a marriage certificate, or a birth certificate.
What if I miss the Open Enrollment window?
Miss January 15, 2027 and you generally wait until the November 2027 Open Enrollment for 2028 coverage, unless a qualifying life event, employer special enrollment, or Medicaid eligibility applies. A short-term plan ending does not rescue you. Medicaid and CHIP are open year-round if income qualifies, so households under 138% FPL ($22,025 for one person in 2026) should apply immediately. Missing the window means you may carry no major medical coverage for months, and short-term bridge plans will not cover pre-existing conditions.
Can I get retroactive ACA coverage after my short-term plan ends?
No. Marketplace coverage chosen during Open Enrollment starts on January 1, 2027 if you select a plan by December 15, 2026, and later selections start later. Marketplace coverage is not retroactive to the day your short-term plan ended. Medicaid is different: many states can cover medical bills from up to 3 months before the application month if you were eligible, so apply promptly. Birth or adoption SEPs are retroactive to the event date, but a short-term plan ending is not one of them.
What is the difference between COBRA and Marketplace coverage for this situation?
COBRA continues a former employer plan at 102% of the full premium, typically $400 to $900 per month for an individual in 2026, and its election window is 60 days from the job loss or other COBRA event. Because short-term plans are individual-market policies, COBRA only matters if you still have an open election from a prior employer. A Marketplace plan costs $10 to $300 per month after 2026 premium tax credits for many enrollees, guarantees coverage regardless of health history, and caps out-of-pocket costs at $10,600 for an individual in 2026.
What state-specific rules apply when a short-term plan ends?
State law decides whether short-term plans exist at all. According to healthinsurance.org, 14 states plus DC, including California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Minnesota, have no short-term plans available in 2026. Maine and Washington bar short-term enrollment during ACA Open Enrollment. State Marketplaces set their own deadlines: Covered California and NY State of Health run through January 31, 2027, MNsure through January 15, 2027, and the Massachusetts Health Connector opens October 23, 2026. State Medicaid brands such as Medi-Cal, AHCCCS, and MassHealth accept applications year-round.
Do I qualify for Medicaid after my short-term plan ends?
You qualify in the 40 expansion states plus DC if household income is under 138% of the Federal Poverty Level: $22,025 for 1 person, $29,863 for 2, $37,702 for 3, and $45,540 for 4 in 2026. Apply year-round at healthcare.gov or your state agency, such as Medi-Cal or AHCCCS. In the 10 non-expansion states, adult limits are far lower, so a Marketplace plan with 2026 premium tax credits is often the route. The household-size table on this page lists limits for 1 to 8 people.
What happens to my children's coverage when a short-term plan ends?
Children covered on your short-term plan lose that coverage on the same end date, with no special enrollment right for them either. CHIP covers kids in households up to roughly 200% to 300% FPL depending on the state, even when parents earn too much for Medicaid, and CHIP enrollment is year-round. Illinois calls it AllKids and California uses Medi-Cal for Kids. Apply for children first at healthcare.gov or your state agency, then enroll adults in a Marketplace plan during Open Enrollment, November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027.
