Open enrollment for 2027 health coverage started November 1, and this year the window is noticeably shorter. If you buy coverage through HealthCare.gov — which includes Florida and most other states — the deadline is December 15, and there's no longer a January cushion for a plan that starts in February. States that run their own exchanges set their own dates, but they all have to close by December 31. If you're not sure which applies to you, your state exchange's website will say.
Most people pick a plan by looking at two numbers: the monthly premium and maybe the deductible. If there's any chance that addiction treatment — for you, a spouse, a kid on your plan — could be part of the next twelve months, it's worth slowing down for a few more questions. Not because anyone is planning for it, but because the time to find out what a plan covers is before you need it, not on the phone with a facility at 11 p.m.
Is there a treatment center you'd actually want in the network? Pick one or two places near you that look solid and check whether they're in-network for the plan you're considering. Out-of-network residential care is where a lot of the worst surprise bills come from.
What's the out-of-pocket maximum, not just the deductible? A higher level of care can hit the yearly cap faster than people expect. That number is the realistic worst case for the year; it's worth knowing it before you sign.
How does the plan handle prior authorization for behavioral health? You don't need to memorize the policy. You just want to know whether a call is required before admission, and who makes it.
Does it cover medication for opioid use disorder? If buprenorphine or naltrexone is part of anyone's care now, check the plan's drug list for it specifically.
None of this has to be a big project. Fifteen minutes with the plan documents is usually enough to know whether you'd be in a reasonable spot or a bad one.
For the longer version, our guides on whether insurance covers rehab and the questions that prevent surprise bills walk through each of these in more detail. And if you're on Medicaid or might qualify, this guide covers how state-funded care works — Medicaid enrollment isn't limited to this window.