HEALTHCARE OPEN ENROLLMENT: How to Sign Up or Re-Enroll For 2027
Updated: 3 days ago
A SMASH how-to guide with links, resources, step-by-step guides, and a glossary of healthcare terms!
TL;DR: SMASH doesn't provide or subsidize health insurance, but we’ve put together some info on how to enroll for health insurance this year below. Confused? Reach out to us at memberservices@smashseattle.org and we can help.
Updated on November 9, 2026
It’s Fall, so you know what that means… It’s time for Washington’s Open Enrollment season! This year healthcare enrollment is running from November 1, 2026 - January 15, 2027, but with three important timing notes to keep in mind:
Your health insurance plan will not auto-renew, so you will need to re-enroll.
You need to enroll or re-enroll by December 15 in order to have your coverage start by January 1, 2027.
If you enroll or re-enroll in a plan after December 15, your coverage will start on February 1, 2027.
Deadlines, federal Medicaid changes, and enrollment might feel tight and scary this year, but we’ve gone ahead and rounded up some “before you enroll” tips, and a list of local, state, and national resources to help make enrollment accessible to you.
HR.1 CHANGES TO APPLE HEALTH (MEDICAID)
With the passing of H.R. 1, there are three big changes happening that will impact everyone enrolled in Apple Health at the end of 2026, and who are looking to enroll after January 1, 2027:
You may need to work, train, or do community engagement for 80 hours per month and/or make at least $580 in trackable income every month unless you meet an exemption.
As of October 20, 2026, you can self-attest to these hours if you do not meet the income amount listed above until January 1, 2028.
You will be required to renew your coverage every 6 months instead of 12 months.
Your retroactive coverage will be shortened from 3 months to:
1 month for Apple Health for Adults.
2 months for all other Apple Health programs.
SMASH is here to help you make sense of these changes for the new year and how they'll impact you moving forward.
BEFORE YOU ENROLL
Gather all your docs.
A good starting checklist:
Most recent (2025 or 2026) tax return
Last 3-6 months of pay stubs, bank statements, Venmo/Cashapp/Paypal statements (if you receive income this way from gigs), and/or 3 month profit/loss statement
Social Security numbers and birthdays for everyone in your household who is planning to enroll
For gig and business income, use your most recent tax return unless your income has changed significantly in the past 3 months, or you expect it to change soon.
We know gig work can fluctuate, but the Exchange needs to know it too. Do not put off updating your income! If your income ends up higher than reported, you could have to pay back some (or all!) of your tax credits at tax time.
Apply as early as possible!
Systems get busy near deadlines! Starting early helps you avoid the stress and ensures your coverage starts on time.
Use a navigator and/or free broker if you can.
It’s totally free to get one-on-one help from trained experts through most local resources (listed below!) in WA. They’ll do their best to make sure you’re getting every credit, discount, and coverage option available.
Now that you’ve got the basics down, here are some resources to get you going!
APPLE HEALTH (MEDICAID) ENROLLMENT
SMASH has a community assister on our team to help you get set-up and enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid) through our resource support.
Do you qualify?
You may qualify for Apple Health if you:
Are 19–64 years old
Have annual household income at or below Apple Health (Medicaid) threshold (see chart below)
Meet U.S. citizenship or Medicaid immigration requirements
Are not entitled to Medicare
Are not eligible for qualified health plans with advance premium tax credits for purchase off the Marketplace or WA Healthplanfinder Exchange (AKA you are not eligible to buy a plan that has tax savings off the WA Marketplace)
Household size and income are determined by your tax filing status and dependents.
Do you think you qualify, and are ready to get enrolled? Make sure you have the following docs handy:
Household monthly income (bring everyone’s income if you’re unsure!)
For those who work gigs and mostly file I9’s: Most recent tax return (2025 or 2026), or 3-month profit/loss statement if your income has significantly changed recently
Social Security numbers and dates of birth for everyone in your household
Immigration information, if applicable
Click here to get started on an application through WA Healthplanfinder.
Reach out to SMASH at memberservices@smashseattle.org if you’re stuck or need help!
MORE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
STATEWIDE RESOURCES
Statewide tool to help shop available plans, taking into account your gross income and potential eligibility for tax credits
.
WA Enrollment Centers (By County)
List of statewide enrollment centers with contact information to connect with free navigators and brokers to discuss individually purchased plan options.
LOCAL PUGET SOUND RESOURCES
Free Broker & Navigator Groups (By City)
King County Health Navigators - The Public Outreach & Access team has a huge team of community navigators and ongoing enrollment events to help you explore your options, and get enrolled.
NATIONAL RESOURCES
General performing artist support, offers counseling and navigation support for insurance enrollment.
Enrollment tailored to musicians, offers counseling and navigation support for insurance enrollment.
National tool to help quickly compare your available health insurance plan options by state.
GLOSSARY OF HEALTHCARE / HEALTH-INSURANCE TERMS:
We know some of this terminology can be confusing, so here’s a glossary to help you navigate the resources in this article.
“Apple Health”: State-administered and sponsored health insurance (Medicaid). In WA you can pick from up to 5 different managed care providers - Molina, Wellpoint, Community Health Plan of WA, United Healthcare, Coordinated Care.
Apple Health Community Assister: A free helper trained to help you prepare and enroll in Apple Health (Medicaid). They can help you fill out and submit an application, but cannot advise you on purchasing plans on WA Healthplanfinder. (SMASH has a Community Assister on staff!)
Broker: An individual who serves as an in-between for you and an insurance company. They can be useful if you need a specifically tailored plan, or in some cases where they can help negotiate a lower insurance rate. Brokers may ask for a fee upfront from you, or can be "free to consult" if they receive their commission from the insurance company itself.
Copay: A fixed amount you pay (like $20) for a doctor visit, medication, or service. Often they are paid at the time of service.
Coinsurance: The amount you pay after you have met your deductible. Most insurance plans rely on an 80/20 (80% of service costs after deductible is covered by insurance, you cover the remaining 20%).
Cost-Sharing Reductions: Extra savings that lower what you pay for deductibles and copays. These are available for certain income levels when you choose a Silver plan through WA Healthplanfinder ("Exchange").
Deductible: How much you pay towards your medical costs each year before your plan starts covering more (or all) of your costs.
Advanced Premium Tax Credits (APTC) or “Tax Credits”: A discount on your monthly premium based on your income. You can apply these credits up front (to lower your monthly payments immediately), or later when you file your taxes; whichever fits your financial rhythm best. (Just make sure you report any big changes to your income when they happen!)
"Individually Purchased" Plan: Any insurance plan that you purchase directly from an insurance companies' site. This term is can also be used to describe a plan that you purchase from WA Healthplanfinder ("Exchange").
“Marketplace” or "Qualified Health (QHP)" Plan: Any plan you shop for through WA Healthplanfinder ("Exchange") that is certified by the Exchange, and not through an employer or directly purchased off the insurance companies' site.
Navigator: A free helper trained to guide you through your health insurance exchange application, compare plan options, and make sure you’re not missing out on tax savings or benefits. They work entirely in the exchange and cannot help you tailor plans or purchase outside of the exchange.
Premium: The amount you pay every month to keep your health insurance active. Normally this is directly paid to the insurance company via check/online portal/payment over the phone. (If you purchased a plan on WA Healthplanfinder ("Exchange"), you can find payment information by the county you live in here.)
Premium Assistance: State assistance programs that help lower the cost of your monthly premium based on your income. In the King County area, this is administered by Project Access NW.
Don’t let the stress of insurance season keep you from getting health coverage this year. SMASH is here to help!
