Newcomer health insurance 60-day Special Enrollment Period for moving here or gaining status
People who move to the US from a foreign country, or who gain lawful immigration status for the first time, can usually buy health insurance on HealthCare.gov within 60 days using a Special Enrollment Period, without waiting for Open Enrollment, which runs each year from November 1 to January 15. Changing from one lawful status to another (for example refugee to green card) does not count. From 2027-01-01, Marketplace premium savings go only to green card holders, Cuban/Haitian entrants and COFA migrants; H-1B, F-1, refugees, asylees and other statuses can still buy a plan, but without savings.
If you have employer coverage, the enrollment deadline follows your company’s plan, so ask HR first. Medicaid and CHIP rules by status changed on 2026-10-01; see below.
Two 60-day Special Enrollment Periods
| Event | Deadline | Who it applies to | What does not count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moving to the US from a foreign country | Usually within 60 days before or after the event | Lawfully present people who can use the Marketplace | — |
| Gaining lawful immigration status for the first time | Within 60 days of gaining status | People who had no lawful status before | Status-to-status changes, such as refugee or asylee to green card |
Sources: HealthCare.gov’sSpecial Enrollment Period pagelists moving to the US from a foreign country as an event, itsglossarysays you usually have 60 days before or after the event, and itsgaining immigration status pagegives the 60 days and the status-to-status exception.
Open Enrollment dates
Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage, as published by HealthCare.gov: it starts November 1 and ends January 15; for coverage starting January 1, pick a plan by December 15; if you enroll between December 16 and January 15, coverage starts February 1 after you pay the first premium. Between January 16 and October 31, you need a Special Enrollment Period to buy a plan (HealthCare.gov dates page). Missing Open Enrollment does not necessarily mean waiting until next year.
Who can buy Marketplace coverage, and who gets savings
| Status | Can buy Marketplace coverage | Premium savings from 2027-01-01 |
|---|---|---|
| Green card holders | Yes | Yes |
| Cuban/Haitian entrants, COFA migrants | Yes | Yes |
| Refugees, asylees, parolees | Yes | No |
| People with an EAD | Yes | No |
| H-1B and other work visas, F-1 and other student visas, U and T visas | Yes | No |
| DACA | Not eligible | — |
Source:HealthCare.gov immigration status page. In its words, other statuses “may be eligible for Marketplace coverage, but not savings.” For statuses not in this table (for example TPS), use that page’s full list. Premium estimates are covered by MONEY.
Medicaid and CHIP: changes by status from 2026-10-01
CMS letter SHO #26-001 to the states, dated 2026-04-08, explains section 71109 of P.L. 119-21: from 2026-10-01, for applicants determined eligible and for people already enrolled, federal funding for full Medicaid and CHIP covers only citizens and US nationals, green card holders, Cuban/Haitian entrants and COFA migrants (CMS SHO #26-001).
- Green card holders: still subject to the 5-year wait unless exempt from it. Green card holders who were previously refugees or asylees have no 5-year wait (HealthCare.gov).
- Refugees and asylees: the same document’s table shows federally funded full Medicaid and CHIP as “yes” before 2026-10-01 and “no” on and after that date.
- Emergency Medicaid: remains available before and after 2026-10-01.
- Pregnancy and children: states can use the CHIPRA 214 option to cover lawfully residing children and pregnant people, and the table includes refugees and asylees under that option.
States must submit state plan amendments to CMS by 2026-12-31 and recheck the status of people already enrolled. For what your state does, watch for notices from your state Medicaid agency.
What to do by status
- Immigrant visa entrants (green card): you can buy Marketplace coverage within 60 days of moving here, and you remain eligible for savings after 2027; Medicaid generally requires a 5-year wait. For the order of steps, see What to do within 90 days of arriving with a green card.
- Adjustment of status inside the US: if you already had lawful status, getting the green card does not open a new Special Enrollment Period.
- H-1B, L-1: if you have employer coverage, ask HR for the enrollment deadline; you can buy Marketplace coverage, without savings from 2027.
- F-1, J-1: school insurance rules are covered by EDU; you can buy Marketplace coverage, without savings from 2027.
- H-4 and L-2 dependents: ask HR whether the principal’s employer plan can add dependents; the 60-day Special Enrollment Period for moving here applies too.
- Refugees and asylees: you can buy Marketplace coverage, without savings from 2027; from 2026-10-01 federal funding for full Medicaid ended, so ask your resettlement agency case manager or a HealthCare.gov navigator first.
Frequently asked questions
If I missed Open Enrollment, do I have to wait until next year?
Not necessarily. Moving from abroad or gaining lawful status for the first time usually gives you a 60-day Special Enrollment Period.
Does getting a green card count as a Special Enrollment Period?
Not if you already had lawful status and are only changing to a green card. Only gaining lawful status for the first time counts.
Can H-1B holders buy Marketplace coverage?
Yes, but without premium savings from 2027-01-01.
Will green card holders still get savings after 2027?
Yes. The statuses HealthCare.gov lists for savings include green card holders.
Can refugees still get Medicaid?
From 2026-10-01 federal funding for full Medicaid for refugees and asylees ended, while emergency Medicaid remains; whether your state does anything else depends on its notices.
Put the 60 days on your deadline list
Health insurance 60 days, Selective Service 30 days and AR-11 10 days are all in the free newcomer deadline table. For how to order your first 30 days by status, see First 30 days in the US: what to do by status; to put your SSN, bank, driver license and taxes in order and check them off, use the My USA Plan checklist: the first 30 items are free, and the full 91 items cost US$9.90, a one-time purchase, not a subscription.
Sources and date checked
All checked on 2026-10-26. This article is not medical, legal or immigration advice.
- HealthCare.gov Special Enrollment Period:https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage-outside-open-enrollment/special-enrollment-period/
- HealthCare.gov glossary:https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/special-enrollment-period/
- HealthCare.gov gaining immigration status:https://www.healthcare.gov/help/gain-immigration-status/
- HealthCare.gov dates and deadlines:https://www.healthcare.gov/quick-guide/dates-and-deadlines/
- HealthCare.gov immigration status and savings:https://www.healthcare.gov/immigrants/immigration-status/
- HealthCare.gov lawfully present immigrants:https://www.healthcare.gov/immigrants/lawfully-present-immigrants/
- CMS SHO #26-001 (2026-04-08): sho26001.pdf