Covered California annual open enrollment runs through Jan. 31, 2026 for health insurance with subsidies for most enrollees

SAN FRANCISCO — While the Congress has not reached an agreement on extending subsidies for health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act, Jessica Altman, Executive Director of Covered California, visited San Francisco Chinatown and encouraged members of the Chinese community to sign up for the 2026 health plans during the annual open enrollment which will end on January 31, 2026.

Covered California is the state’s health insurance marketplace and began providing services in 2014 under the Affordable Care Act which is so-called the Obamacare. Residents of California can find affordable health plans among 11 insurance companies selected by Covered California with financial assistance offered by the federal and California governments.

Recent 43-day shutdown of federal government from October 1 to November 12 was due to the disagreements on extending subsidies for the Affordable Care Act between lawmakers from both parties. The current premium tax credits for helping consumers to pay for health coverage are set to expire at the end of the year.

If the extension of tax credits ultimately is not reached in Congress, tens of millions of Americans will face spiking health care and premium costs for their 2026 health plans.

Covered California's annual open enrollment for California residents to sign up or switch their health plans for the upcoming year began on November 1 and ends on January 31, 2026.

Altman hosted several kickoff events to promote the open enrollment including visiting the Hang Ah Tea Room in San Francisco Chinatown and meeting with news media on November 6.

“Since 2014, Covered California has helped more than 6 million Californians connect to quality health insurance at an affordable price,” said Altman. “Despite uncertainty in Washington, our mission remains the same. We are here to help Californians get comprehensive health insurance, including free preventive care, to keep themselves and their families healthy in 2026.”

Since Covered California's inception in 2014, the Affordable Care Act has helped millions of Americans access health insurance, including nearly 2 million Californians in 2025, according to Altman.

If the Congress fails to reach an extension of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, monthly premiums are projected to rise by 97% on average for more than 1.7 million Californians enroll and receive financial help through Covered California. It includes more than 160,000 middle-income consumers who currently receive the federal premium tax credits but would lose eligibility in 2026, said Altman.

Facing the challenges of full premium without subsidies, it is expected that many Californians would take the risk of dropping health insurances and becoming uninsured.

In 2025, Governor Newsom and the California Legislature increased state funding and appropriated $165 million to expand eligibility. For 2026, the state has allocated $190 million to provide state-funded tax credits for individuals paying for health plans.

The extra state funds 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, Altman said.

Nearly 92% of Covered California enrollees received financial help in 2025 to pay for premiums. The data from Covered California shows that about 17% of current consumers will pay $0 in premiums in 2026 if they keep their current plans.