• The Affordable Care Act Marketplace open enrollment period starts on November 1st until January 15th.

• Schedule an appointment at www.coveringflorida.org or call Covering Florida for more info at 877-813-9115.

• Covering Florida Navigators provide FREE enrollment assistance in all of Florida’s 67 counties and offer confidential one-on-one customer service, phone assistance, and virtual appointments to anyone looking to enroll for health care coverage.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has made major changes to the health care system which will begin to take effect in January 2026. These include:

1) Increased premiums for Marketplace plans (Sec. 10201(a)(1))

2) Funding freezes for hospitals, doctors, and nursing homes, which may lead to cuts in services (Secs. 71115-6)

3) Many immigrant families, including refugees and asylees, lose coverage (Secs. 71109, 71301, 71201)

4) Medicare Savings Programs become harder to access (Secs. 71101-2)

5) Rural hospitals and clinics at greater risk of closure

6) Fewer emergency care options for everyone

We're urging everyone to make preparations now for the health care changes that will begin to take effect in January.

• Contact a Marketplace Navigator beginning Nov. 1 for FREE assistance reviewing your coverage options and enrolling in a plan.

• Familiarize yourself with alternative clinics and hospitals in your area in the event that your current provider limits services due to funding freezes.

• Check whether there are community health centers or charitable clinics still offering low-cost care in your area.

• Familiarize yourself with multiple emergency care options in your area and be prepared for increased wait times.

• Remind Congress why it's important to keep care affordable. Share how rising health care costs will affect you using the form below.

• You qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you've had certain life events, including losing health coverage, moving, getting married, having a baby, or adopting a child.

• Florida residents impacted by Covid-19, including job or wage loss and related health insurance loss may qualify.

• If you qualify for an SEP, you usually have up to 60 days following the event to enroll in a plan, so don't delay calling us to learn your options.

• Call the Covering Florida navigators (877-813-9115) today for information on eligibility and to schedule an appointment for Special Enrollment.

• All Marketplace plans must cover treatment for pre-existing medical conditions.

• No insurance plan can reject you, charge you more, or refuse to pay for essential health benefits for any condition you had before your coverage started.

• Once you’re enrolled, the plan can’t deny you coverage or raise your rates based only on your health.

• Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) also can't refuse to cover you or charge you more because of your pre-existing condition.

• Under the law, insurers are prohibited from using a consumer’s health status to deny coverage (guaranteed issue), set individual and small group market rates (community rating), exclude coverage of pre-existing conditions, or cancel a policy.

  • Guaranteed issue: The requires insurers to offer health insurance products to everyone in the market, regardless of health status.

  • Community rating: The ACA’s rating rules prohibit insurers from charging higher premiums based on an insured’s health status and they can only vary rates based on geographic rating area, age (limited to a 3:1 differential), tobacco use (limited to a 1.5:1 differential), and whether or not it is individual or family coverage.

  • Ban on Pre-existing Condition Exclusions: Under the ACA, insurers are not allowed to limit or exclude coverage of services and treatment based on an enrollee’s pre-existing condition.