NASE News

With Open Enrollment Approaching, Entrepreneurs Confront Critical Health Coverage Choices — Support Resources and Tools Available to Help Navigate the Health Care Insurance Marketplace

November 1^st: Health Insurance 2026 Open Enrollment Begins

With Premium Tax Credits Set to Expire this Year Unless Congress Acts to Renews Them, Hall says “Set your Calendar for November 1, Pour a cup of coffee, and Take the Time to Review the Plans that fit your Budget and Life needs. This is a Critical Year to Make Sure you Choose the Right Coverage for Yourself and Your Family”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the start of health insurance open enrollment approaches on Saturday, November 1^st, the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE)—the nation’s leading advocate and resource for the self-employed and micro-business community—is urging millions of small business owners and entrepreneurs to take advantage of available tools and resources to select the right health care plan.

This year’s enrollment period is especially significant, as a record number of new entrepreneurs are not only expected to navigate the Health Insurance Marketplace for the first time, but many entrepreneurs could face higher health care premiums given the premium tax credits are set to expire this year unless Congress acts to renew them. Furthermore, the Medicare annual enrollment period is already underway and continues through December 7.

“Now more than ever, small business owners and self-employed individuals – and the entire American public – are encouraged to carefully review their available health care options, assess recent life changes, and consider their budgets to select a plan that best fits their personal and professional needs for 2026. The nation’s entrepreneurial community continues to expand rapidly—fueled by resilience, innovation, and post-pandemic job growth,” said Keith Hall, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), the nation’s leading advocate and resource for the self-employed and micro-business community.  “With a record number of new entrepreneurs joining the small business boom, many will be navigating the Health Insurance Marketplace for the first time. NASE urges these individuals to prepare early and make informed decisions, especially as rising health care costs remain one of the most significant challenges facing small businesses today.”

As millions enroll in coverage for the coming year, uncertainty looms over the future of the premium tax credits that has made health care accessible and affordable for America’s entrepreneurs. Without congressional action to renew them, these vital credits will expire at year’s end — threatening to drive up premiums and disrupt coverage for millions of self-employed Americans.

Open enrollment begins on November 1^st and runs through December 15^th for coverage beginning on January 1, 2026

“Unless Congress renews the premium tax credits that have helped millions of Americans afford health coverage, these vital supports will expire at the end of the year,” continued Hall. “These credits have been instrumental in unlocking access to care for millions of individuals who have taken the bold step to start their own small businesses.”

Last year, NASE released a national State of the Small Business Community survey that revealed the top challenges impacting the self-employed community were Health Care and Prescription Drug Costs, Taxes, and Inflation.

“Set your calendar for November 1, pour a cup of coffee, and take the time to review the plans that fit your budget and life needs. This is a critical year to make sure you choose the right coverage for yourself and your family,” concluded Hall.

Over the last few years, there has been a record-breaking surge of over 20 million new small business applications to the Small Business Administration. A new rule published in the Federal Register and finalized in 2020 introduced changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the nation’s health care law, resulting in new benefit and payment parameters impacting America’s small business and self-employed community.  Provisions of the rule impacting both current and future health care and Medicare beneficiaries affects eligibility, enrollment, and coverage details.

During Open Enrollment Season, small business owners and individuals can:

• Change medical and dental plans
• Add or remove dependents from coverage
• Enroll or re-enroll in Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSA)/Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) for the next year

Important Tools and Resources:

• The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE): www.NASE.org
• NASE health care insurance tool: https://www.nase.org/request-insurance-quote
• The Federal Health Care Insurance Marketplace – www.healthcare.gov: https://www.healthcare.gov/quick-guide/dates-and-deadlines/
• The Medicare Program: https://www.medicare.gov/

Key Dates and Topics for Discussion:

•  Health Care Insurance Open Enrollment Term: The period runs between November 1^st through December 15^th, 2025.
• Sign-Up Before December 15^th to Begin Coverage January 1^st, 2026:  You must complete your new or renewal application before 11:59 p.m., Dec. 15^th, for your health insurance coverage to begin Jan. 1, 2026. If you miss this deadline, you can still sign up for a Marketplace health plan until January 15^th, 2026, where your coverage would not start until February 1^st, 2026. After that, you must qualify for a special life event under the Special Enrollment Period.
• The HRA Option is Still Available:  In 2020, employers started offering a new health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) option to employees to purchase coverage in the individual market. Employers now offer this new HRA pursuant to a new rule finalized in June 2019 and in effect in 2020.
• Medicare Open Enrollment Term: The annual term already begun on October 15^th, and runs through December 7^th. You can find more information here: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/2024-medicare-open-enrollment-fact-sheet.pdf

NASE was a major proponent of the new HRA rule and advocated on the issue for several years since the passage of the ACA and previous guidance restricting HRA use by small employers.

To Speak with Keith Hall, NASE president and CEO please contact Kristofer Eisenla at [email protected]

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The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) is the nation's leading advocate and resource for the self-employed and micro-businesses, offering a broad range of benefits to help entrepreneurs succeed and to drive the continued growth of this vital segment of the American economy.

The NASE NextBizThing helps identify and connect our nation’s smallest businesses. Need small business help? Check out NASE’s Ask the Experts for advice or the NASE Minute for small business support.

The NASE is a 501(c) (6) nonprofit organization and provides big-business advantages to hundreds of thousands of micro-businesses across the United States. For more information, visit the association's website at NASE.org