Health Bill Extends 2026 Open Enrollment to May 1st, Creates Monthly Enrollment for Low-Income Americans

The “Protecting Access to Affordable Coverage Act of 2025” is making some significant changes to how people enroll in health insurance, focusing heavily on extending deadlines and boosting support for the lowest income bracket. The big news is the extended open enrollment period for the 2026 plan year, which now runs from November 1, 2025, to May 1, 2026. That’s a huge extra window for people who miss the traditional December deadline to sign up. The bill also creates a new monthly special enrollment period (SEP) for individuals whose income is expected to be under 150% of the federal poverty line and who qualify for advance premium tax credits, starting in 2026 (SEC. 2).

The New Enrollment Lifelines

This monthly enrollment option is a game-changer for people navigating financial instability. If you’re a gig worker or someone whose income fluctuates, and you suddenly qualify for those high tax credits because your earnings dipped, you no longer have to wait for a specific life event or the annual open enrollment period. You can enroll once per month. Think of a single parent working two part-time jobs: if one job cuts hours, dropping their income, they could enroll in a subsidized plan almost immediately, rather than waiting months for coverage to start. This provision directly targets the biggest barrier to coverage: timing.

Navigators: New Rules and Dedicated Cash

The bill also dramatically reshapes the Navigator program, which provides crucial, free assistance to people enrolling in plans. The goal is clearly to stabilize and fund this service, especially in states where the federal government runs the Exchange. For fiscal year 2026 and beyond, $100 million annually will be set aside from the user fees collected from health insurance companies to fund these grants in federal Exchange states (SEC. 2). This dedicated funding stream is a win for the program’s stability.

However, there are new restrictions on who can serve as a Navigator. Entities must now have a “physical presence in the state” where the Exchange operates. This is a big deal because it could lock out effective, established organizations that operate primarily online or remotely, potentially limiting consumer choice in rural areas. Furthermore, Navigators are now explicitly barred from being “enhanced direct enrollment entities,” and they cannot charge applicants or enrollees any fees for their services. For consumers, this ensures the help remains free, but for some current entities, these new rules could mean they have to completely restructure or drop out of the program.

The Fine Print on Verification

One provision that flies under the radar but could impact administrative processes is the repeal of amendments made by a previous law (specifically, section 71303 of an earlier reconciliation act). The bill simply states that the law will be restored “as if those amendments were never enacted” (SEC. 2). Since the bill doesn't detail what those repealed amendments did, it’s hard to know the full impact. Typically, these amendments related to eligibility verification requirements. While repealing verification steps might streamline the process and make it easier for people to get covered quickly, it could also remove some existing safeguards intended to prevent fraud or improper payments. This is one area where the implementation details will matter a lot.