Covered California open enrollment: the dates, tiers and subsidies
Open enrollment runs through January 31, 2026.
Covered California is the state's health insurance marketplace where individuals and families can buy coverage directly or receive subsidized plans. Open enrollment—the annual window when most people can sign up for or change their coverage—runs from November 1, 2025 through January 31, 2026 for 2026 coverage. Covered California employs about 11,000 enrollment counselors to help navigate the process, and offers multilingual support in 15 languages plus TTY services.
The timing matters because of significant changes in financial assistance. Federal subsidies that kept premiums lower during the pandemic expired on December 31, 2025, reverting to rules from before 2021. Now, subsidies are available only to households earning between 138 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level—higher income limits get no assistance at all, a cliff that has driven substantial premium increases. California has allocated $190 million to provide state-funded tax credits for lower-income Californians earning up to 165 percent of federal poverty level, but those living above 165 percent may face significantly higher monthly premiums without additional help.
When open enrollment happens and key deadlines
Open enrollment for 2026 coverage runs from November 1, 2025 through January 31, 2026. During this period, all Californians can enroll in a new plan or switch coverage, even without a qualifying life event like losing employer insurance or moving. Outside of open enrollment, only people with certain life changes can sign up for coverage during special enrollment periods.
The December 31, 2025 deadline is critical and creates two different coverage scenarios. If you enroll by that date, your coverage starts January 1, 2026. If you enroll between January 1 and January 31, 2026, your coverage won't begin until February 1. For current Covered California members who want to make changes to their existing plan, this December 31 deadline also applies.
Those with qualifying life events—such as losing employer-sponsored coverage, getting married, having a baby, moving to California, or aging onto Medicare—can enroll outside the open enrollment window. For most life events, coverage begins on the first day of the month following when you select a plan, though the exact date depends on when you complete enrollment and make your initial payment.
Understanding the four metal tiers
Covered California sells plans in four metal tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The tier names refer to the percentage of average medical costs the plan covers after you meet your deductible, not the quality of care. The tiers are ranked by 'actuarial value'—the share of costs paid by the insurance company versus you. Bronze plans pay 60 percent of average medical expenses and you pay 40 percent. Silver plans pay 70 percent with you paying 30 percent. Gold plans cover 80 percent with you paying 20 percent. Platinum plans cover 90 percent with you paying 10 percent.
All plans must cover preventive services like vaccinations and screenings at no cost, and all offer the same essential health benefits. The real difference is in the trade-off between what you pay monthly versus what you pay when you need care. In lower-tier plans like Bronze, the insurance company pays less of your medical costs, so your deductibles, copays, and coinsurance are higher—but your monthly premium is lower. Deductibles in Bronze plans typically exceed $5,000. In higher-tier plans like Gold and Platinum, your monthly premium costs much more, but the insurance company covers a larger share of costs and your deductible is often $0 to $500.
Silver plans have a special feature that makes them valuable for lower-income households: cost-sharing reductions (CSR). Certain households earning between 100 and 250 percent of the federal poverty level automatically qualify for these reductions, which lower deductibles, copays, and coinsurance within the same Silver plan—without paying a higher premium. The plan with the lowest monthly premium is not always the cheapest option when you factor in total annual costs including deductibles and copays.
How subsidies reduce what you pay
Subsidies, officially called premium tax credits, reduce your monthly premium by helping you pay the cost of the plan. These are federal financial assistance paid directly to your insurance company, lowering your monthly bill. The credits are paid monthly throughout the year as 'advance premium tax credits' (APTC), rather than waiting until you file taxes.
Your subsidy amount is determined by comparing your household income to the federal poverty level. The system calculates what percentage of your income you should contribute toward the benchmark plan—the second-lowest-cost Silver plan in your area—then covers the difference with the subsidy. For example, if the benchmark Silver plan costs $600 per month and your income level means you should pay only $137 per month, your monthly subsidy would be $463. This approach means people with lower incomes get larger subsidies, while those with higher incomes get smaller subsidies.
Federal subsidies are available to households earning between 138 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level. For 2026, this means roughly $22,025 to $62,600 annually for a single person, or $45,542 to $128,600 for a family of four. Those earning below 138 percent of the federal poverty level are instead eligible for Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program, which offers coverage with minimal or no cost. Those earning above 400 percent receive no federal subsidy assistance.
California's state subsidies bridge the subsidy gap
California's state subsidies, launched in 2026, provide additional help that did not exist before. The state allocated $190 million from the Health Care Affordability Reserve Fund to provide tax credits for households earning up to 165 percent of the federal poverty level—about $23,475 for an individual or $48,225 for a family of four. On average, people enrolled in state-subsidized plans received $45 per month in assistance during the 2026 enrollment period.
These state credits partially offset the loss of the enhanced federal subsidies that expired on December 31, 2025. During the pandemic, federal subsidies were much more generous: the government covered more of the premium costs, and no one had to pay more than 8.5 percent of their household income toward premiums. Starting in 2026, people earning more than 400 percent of the federal poverty level receive no federal assistance whatsoever, creating what experts call a 'subsidy cliff.' A household earning just above 400 percent of poverty level saw premiums rise dramatically, with one couple age 55 in some California regions experiencing monthly increases exceeding $2,000 once the enhanced subsidies expired.
During the 2026 enrollment period, 389,590 Californians were enrolled in plans with state subsidies. The state subsidies have been particularly important in maintaining coverage among lower-income Californians: 1.9 million people total enrolled in Covered California for 2026, but new signups dropped 32 percent from the previous year as people adjusted to higher premiums for those above the state subsidy income limit.
“The plan with the lowest monthly premium is not always the cheapest option when you factor in total annual costs including deductibles and copays.”
Choosing the right plan for your situation
Covered California's website includes a 'Shop and Compare' tool that lets you compare plans side by side. You enter your zip code, household size, and income, and the tool shows you the monthly premium you'd pay after subsidies, the deductible, copay amounts, out-of-pocket maximums, and which doctors and hospitals are in each plan's network. This tool is the starting point for most enrollment decisions because it shows the actual cost you would pay.
When comparing plans, examine the deductible—the amount you pay out of pocket before the insurance company starts paying. In Bronze plans with deductibles exceeding $5,000, you pay that entire amount before coverage kicks in. Compare copay amounts for visits to your regular doctor and specialists. Check whether your preferred doctors and hospitals are in each plan's network, since being out of network means you pay significantly more. Look at the out-of-pocket maximum, which is the most you'll pay in a year for covered services across deductibles, copays, and coinsurance combined.
For people with chronic conditions requiring regular medication or specialist visits, a higher-premium Gold or Platinum plan often costs less overall than a low-premium Bronze plan because the insurance company covers a much larger share of ongoing medical costs. For young, healthy people who rarely need care, Bronze plans may save money even with higher deductibles if they have emergency savings. Those earning between 100 and 250 percent of federal poverty level should closely examine Silver plans with cost-sharing reductions, since the automatic lower deductibles and copays often provide better value than Bronze plans at no additional cost.
Renewing and updating your coverage
If you already have Covered California coverage, your plan renews automatically on January 1, 2026, unless you actively make changes during open enrollment. You do not need to do anything on a specific date to keep your existing coverage active. However, this automatic renewal does not guarantee your best coverage option.
Review your plan before the January 31, 2026 deadline. Premiums, deductibles, copays, and plan networks change every year. Your income may have changed, making you newly eligible for subsidies, increasing your subsidy amount, or potentially losing you subsidy eligibility if you moved above 400 percent of federal poverty level. A plan that worked well in 2025 might not be the best choice for 2026 given the major subsidy changes. You can view renewal notices and make changes through your Covered California account online, by calling 1-800-300-1506, or working with a certified enrollment counselor. All Covered California services and materials are available in multiple languages.
