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Get Covered. Stay Informed.

OPEN ENROLLMENT 2026 RUNS FROM
NOVEMBER 1, 2025 TO DECEMBER 15, 2026

Welcome to Covering New Hampshire, your free resource for understanding health coverage in the Granite State. Whether you’re exploring the Marketplace, learning about Medicaid & CHIP, or checking if you qualify for financial help — you’re in the right place.

Here’s how we help:

Clear, up-to-date information on health insurance options.

Easy-to-use guides and tutorials for enrollment and beyond.

Connections to local in-person assisters who walk you through the process.

No cost, no bias — just straightforward guidance to help you get covered.

Need help right now? Call us at (800) 318-2596 and we’ll connect you to a trained navigator.

Learn how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) impacts health coverage in New Hampshire, including enrollment options, premium tax credits, Medicaid expansion, and local resources for individuals and families. If you have questions about your coverage after enrolling, contact the New Hampshire Insurance Department at 1-800-852-3416, (603) 271-2261, or email consumerservices@ins.nh.gov.

 

Open Enrollment 2026: What to know

Key dates (ACA/Marketplace)

  • New Hampshire:

  • Open Enrollment starts Nov 1.

  • Choose/renew by Dec 15 for Jan 1 coverage

What’s different (ACA/Marketplace) in 2026

  • Enhanced ACA subsidies (premium tax credits) are set to expire in January 2026 unless Congress extends them. If they lapse, many enrollees may face higher premiums. State insurance regulators (both parties) urged Congress to decide early because 2026 rates get “locked in” during fall.

  • Why enrollment has grown: Expanded eligibility during the pandemic (continued via the Inflation Reduction Act through 2025) helped push Marketplace enrollment to ~24 million in 2025—about double 2021.

Picking a Marketplace plan (quick refresh)

  • Plans & tiers: Bronze (lower premiums/higher out-of-pocket), Silver, Gold, Platinum. Cost-sharing reductions (CSRs)—“extra savings”—can lower deductibles/copays for eligible low-income enrollees on certain Silver plans. Use your state exchange’s comparison tools.

  • Deadlines matter: Enroll by Dec 15 for Jan 1 coverage; later selections (often allowed until mid-Jan) start later.

10-minute checklist (ACA & Medicare)

  1. Log in early (by Nov 1) and review 2026 options—don’t auto-renew.

  2. Update household income and family size to get the right subsidy/CSR level.

  3. Compare total cost, not just premium: deductible, copays, coinsurance, OOP max.

  4. Check your doctors/hospitals are in-network for 2026.

  5. List your medications and check each plan’s formulary (especially for Part D).

  6. If you qualify for CSRs, focus on eligible Silver plans to cut out-of-pocket costs.

  7. Medicare users: Review your Annual Notice of Change and shop—average premiums and OOP caps shift in 2026, and plan counts change.

  8. Mark deadlines: Marketplace Dec 15 (for Jan 1 start); Medicare Dec 7.

  9. Watch the subsidy news: If Congress extends enhanced ACA subsidies, re-check your options; if not, premiums may be higher in 2026 for many.

  10. Get help if needed: State navigators/assisters and SHIP counselors (for Medicare) can walk you through choices.

 

Key Facts

  • The open enrollment period for Marketplace plans is your best time to enroll — but if you’ve had a life event (job change, move, marriage, etc.), you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Covering NH+1

  • Medicaid and CHIP accept applications year-round — don’t wait until the next open enrollment.

  • Seek free help from certified assisters to compare plans, check eligibility and apply correctly.

  • Know the deadlines: If you want coverage starting January 1, submit on time. If you miss the deadline, you may have to wait until the next year unless you qualify for a special rule.

Get Help

Need assistance? Here’s how:

  • Call our hotline: (800) 318-2596

  • Find a local navigator: We have a network of free, trained helpers throughout New Hampshire. (Link to local listing)

  • Ask questions anytime: Whether you’re applying for the first time, renewing your coverage, or exploring new options — we’re here to guide you.

What Kinds of Plans Are Available?

The Health Insurance Marketplace offers a variety of plans to pick from. You have the option to pick a Bronze Plan, Silver Plan or Gold Plan. Plans in each category pay different amounts of the total costs of your healthcare. For instance, you may pay 40% of the cost if you go with the Bronze plan, 30% with Silver, and 20% with Gold. Co-pay and deductibles may apply.

What to Consider When Choosing a Plan

If you expect a lot of doctor visits or need regular prescriptions, you may want a low deductible Silver or Gold plan. These plans generally have higher monthly premiums but pay more of your costs when you need care.

If you don’t expect to use regular medical services and don’t take regular prescriptions:

You may want a Silver or Bronze plan. These plans cost you less per month, but pay less of your costs when you need care. Make sure you look at all the costs that come with having health insurance. Be familiar with the plan’s monthly premium (how much you pay each month), deductible (the amount you pay before your insurance begins to pay), and co-pays (a dollar amount you pay for a medical service). It is important to consider all of these costs when choosing a health plan. The plan that is the least expensive every month may not necessarily be the best option for you and your family.

What’s a Health Insurance Marketplace? Why do I need health insurance?

The new health care law sets up a Health Insurance Marketplace in each state, which is your one-stop shopping destination for health insurance. It works in the same way you would shop for any other important item in your life: You look at all the available options in your area, compare each plan’s features and prices side-by-side, then choose the one that fits your needs and your budget.

6 Key Facts About the New Health Insurance Options:

  • Financial help is available

  • Preventive care is free

  • Application help is available — and free

  • You can’t be turned down for coverage for a having a pre-existing condition

  • The costs and benefits of each plan must be explained in easy-to-understand language — with no fine print

  • All health insurance plans have to cover important benefits, like doctor visits, hospitalizations, prescriptions, and more

What Your New Insurance Gets You:

  • Doctor visits

  • Prescription coverage

  • Mental health services

  • Emergency services and hospitalizations

  • Maternity care

  • Infant care and children’s care

  • Free preventive care, such as:

    • Vaccinations

    • Cholesterol screening

    • Blood pressure screening

    • Colorectal cancer screening

    • Mammograms

    • Pap smears 

Information from www.getcovered.org

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