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Can You Get Health Insurance Outside Open Enrollment in Michigan? (2027)
Quick answer: Yes, but not always on the marketplace. Marketplace plans outside open enrollment require a qualifying life event. Private plans can generally be bought in any month.
Marketplace special enrollment
You may qualify for a special enrollment period if you lose job-based coverage, move to a new area, get married, or have or adopt a child. You usually have about 60 days from the event, and you may need to show proof. Simply wanting a different plan does not qualify. Open enrollment for 2027 marketplace coverage began November 1, 2026. Most HealthCare.gov deadlines are December 15 for a January 1 start and January 15 for the final day, but state marketplaces set their own dates, so confirm yours on healthcare.gov.
Private plans
Private shared-network plans on Cigna, Aetna and PHCS PPO do not use open enrollment. You apply, answer a short health questionnaire and, if approved, coverage usually starts on the first of a following month. Approval is not guaranteed.
Other routes
If you lose employer coverage, COBRA can continue it for a limited time, usually at full cost. Medicaid and CHIP can be applied for year-round if you qualify. Medicaid is expanded (Healthy Michigan Plan) in Michigan.
Do not wait
If you lose coverage, act inside the 60-day window. Missing it can leave you uninsured until the next open enrollment.
See live private-plan pricing or check your options and we will run both markets for you. Prices, carriers and rules change, so treat anything here as a starting point, not a quote.