ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment Begins November 1
ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment Begins November 1
Open Enrollment for the ACA Marketplace begins November 1, 2025-January 15, 2026. Even if you’re not looking to change plans, this is the perfect time to review your current coverage. Or, if you are uninsured, this is the time to get health insurance in place.
For those whose work or lifestyle takes them across multiple states, or for anyone living the digital nomad or RV life, finding coverage that truly travels with you can be tricky. My husband and I did a lot of planning before we started our four-year RV adventure. Considering the right rig, making a bucket-list of places to go and finding a job that allowed us to be on the move. One thing we underestimated was the hassle of not having nationwide health insurance. Yes, we were lucky that no major health issues came up when we were away from our HMO network in California. Yet our travels were often shaped by the doctor’s appointments we had to make months ahead. Not the free-spirited on the road life we envisioned. If you are on the move, it makes sense to have a health plan that moves with you.
The good news? You’ve got options, both on and off the ACA Marketplace.
1. Indemnity Benefit Plans (Fee-for-Service)
If flexibility is your top priority, an Indemnity Benefit Plan is worth a look. These are more traditional insurance plans and have become especially popular with full-time RVers and digital nomads.
Benefits of Indemnity Benefit Plans:
Nationwide freedom: See any doctor, hospital, or specialist—no network restrictions or referrals.
Simple structure: The plan pays set benefits for different medical needs.
Join anytime: No enrollment period—you can apply or cancel at any time.
Downside of Indemnity Benefit Plans:
Plans are not considered major medical plans and aren’t ACA-compliant.
Requires underwriting, and may exclude pre-existing conditions.
2. Companion Plans
If you have a home base but travel often, a Companion Plan can be the best of both worlds. By pairing a Companion Plan with your ACA coverage, you get the major medical protection you need and the flexibility to get care anywhere in the country.
Benefits of Companion Plans
Works alongside your ACA plan to provide out-of-network benefits.
Helps cover hospital stays, doctor visits, and more while you’re traveling.
Can also help offset your ACA premiums, deductibles, and copays.
Downside of Companion Plans
Adds an additional monthly health plan premium.
Requires managing benefits from two different insurance plans
3. ACA Plans
Most ACA health plans on and off the marketplace are local HMOs or EPOs, which means they’re designed to cover you in a specific geographical area and network . If you’re on the road often, that makes it difficult to find approved providers. However, there are some ACA plans that can work outside your home (otherwise known as domicile) state. One option to consider is a nationwide ACA PPO plan.
Benefits of a Nationwide PPO:
In some states, certain providers offer ACA plans that provide access to their PPO network, giving you access to doctors and hospitals wherever you travel in the U.S.
Downside of ACA PPO plans:
Since not all Nationwide PPO plans are available on the Marketplace (where subsidies apply) or in each state, you’ll need to check what’s offered in your domicile state.
Nationwide PPO plans tend to be more expensive than ACA plans with limited networks.
Though nationwide in theory, some plans have limited care in some states and may be inconvenient based on your travels. Be sure to match coverage areas with your own travel plans.
Want to Learn More?
Whether you’re a frequent traveler, a full-time nomad, or just someone curious about their options, Open Enrollment is your chance to make sure your health coverage fits your lifestyle. Want more information? Fill out the form here.