Open Enrollment 2026: An 8-Step Health Insurance Checklist for East Tennessee Families

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For most people, open enrollment is the one time each year to switch, update or start health insurance coverage. Miss it, and you may have to wait another year unless you have a qualifying life event, like a move, marriage or new baby.

The choices can feel overwhelming. Premiums, deductibles, networks and drug lists all play a part. This checklist breaks it down into eight simple steps.

1. Know your deadlines

Open enrollment periods depend on where your coverage comes from:

Individual and family plans (HealthCare.gov): Tennessee uses the federal Marketplace. Open enrollment typically begins November 1. [VERIFY: 2027 plan-year end date]
Medicare: The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7.
Employer plans: Dates vary by company, so check with your HR team.

Put your deadline on the calendar now so it doesn’t sneak up on you.

2. Review what changed in your current plan

If you already have coverage, look for your plan’s annual notice of changes. Premiums, deductibles, covered drugs and in-network doctors can all change from year to year. Staying put is fine, as long as it’s a choice and not an accident.

3. Look back at how you used your coverage this year

Count your doctor visits, specialist appointments, prescriptions and any hospital stays. If you rarely see a doctor, a plan with a lower premium may fit. If you have ongoing care, a plan with a lower deductible could save you more over the year.

4. Make sure your doctors are in network

If you have doctors, specialists or hospitals you love, confirm they’re in the plan’s network before you enroll. Going out of network can cost far more, or may not be covered at all.

5. Check your prescriptions

Every plan has a list of covered drugs, called a formulary. Make sure your medications are on it, and check what tier they fall in. That tier affects what you pay at the pharmacy counter.

6. Compare total costs, not just premiums

The monthly premium is only part of the picture. In plain terms:

Deductible: what you pay before the plan starts paying
Copay or coinsurance: your share of each visit or service
Out-of-pocket maximum: the most you’d pay in a year for covered care

A lower premium can mean higher costs when you need care, so look at all four together.

7. See if you qualify for savings

Depending on your household income, you may qualify for help lowering the cost of a Marketplace plan. Update your income and household information when you apply so your savings are accurate.

8. Ask a local agent to compare plans with you

You don’t have to figure it out alone. A licensed agent can walk through your options side by side, explain the trade-offs and help you enroll before the deadline.