[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” column_structure=”1_4,3_4″][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” alt=”Are Your Healthcare Decisions Limited by Open Enrollment” title_text=”Are Your Healthcare Decisions Limited By Open Enrollment?” src=”https:\/\/zionhealthshare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1-30.png” show_in_lightbox=”on” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_color=”rgba(251,216,114,0.5)” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” type=”3_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
As 2026 begins, many Americans are re-evaluating their healthcare options. Enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that helped keep insurance premiums lower\u00a0<\/span>expired at the end of 2025<\/span><\/a>, and the result for many households is sharply higher insurance costs this year. That reality has pushed more people to look beyond\u00a0health\u00a0insurance and ask practical questions about alternatives.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One of the most\u00a0common questions\u00a0people ask is, \u201cCan I join a HealthShare anytime, or do I have to wait for open enrollment?\u201d It is a fair question, especially if you are used to insurance rules that revolve around strict enrollment windows and limited opportunities to make changes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The short answer is that most healthshares allow people to enroll at any time. Unlike\u00a0health\u00a0insurance, enrollment is not limited to a once-a-year open enrollment window.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n For many Americans, the timing of healthcare decisions\u00a0is\u00a0more complicated than ever. The ACA Marketplace\u00a0<\/span>open enrollment period<\/span><\/a>\u00a0for 2026 coverage ends January 15, 2026, in most states. Missing that deadline often means waiting until the next enrollment period unless you experience a\u00a0<\/span>qualifying life event<\/span><\/a>, such as losing coverage, moving, or a change in household size.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In recent years, there was one notable exception.\u00a0Individuals with incomes at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level were allowed to enroll throughout the year through what was known as the low-income special enrollment period.\u00a0That\u00a0option\u00a0gave some people flexibility beyond the standard enrollment window.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That flexibility is going away. Beginning August 25, 2025, low income alone will no longer qualify someone for a\u00a0<\/span>special enrollment period<\/span><\/a>. While the rule is technically set to expire at the end of 2026, a separate\u00a0<\/span>federal law<\/span><\/a>\u00a0taking effect in 2026\u00a0effectively ends the low-income special enrollment period on a permanent basis. As a result, far fewer people will have access to year-round marketplace enrollment moving forward.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” column_structure=”2_3,1_3″][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” type=”2_3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Timing is only part of the issue. Affordability plays\u00a0an equally\u00a0important role. Some have delayed enrolling because the cost felt out of reach,\u00a0while\u00a0others enrolled\u00a0and\u00a0are now reassessing whether those premiums are\u00a0sustainable\u00a0long term.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This is where\u00a0anytime enrollment becomes meaningful. Healthshares operate outside ACA insurance rules. They are nonprofit, membership-based programs where members voluntarily share eligible medical expenses. Because they are not insurance, healthshares are not bound by\u00a0government\u00a0enrollment calendars.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_3″][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]Why\u00a0Year Round\u00a0Enrollment Matters in 2026<\/h2>\n
Rising Premiums & Timing Challenges Push People to Alternatives<\/h2>\n