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Marketplace Open Enrollment Under Way – Increased Engagement with Enrollment Resources

The 2025-26 HealthCare.gov Marketplace Open Enrollment period kicked off November 1, 2025, and runs through January 15, 2026. In the first two weeks of Open Enrollment, Covering Wisconsin (CWI), the state’s federally certified and state-licensed health insurance navigator agency, reports increased engagement with enrollment resources as compared to last year at this time. Incoming phone calls and online chats to CWI navigators are up by 13% and 8% respectively, statewide. Visits to CWI’s website are also up significantly, reflecting a 150% increase. HealthyMKE.com, the Milwaukee Enrollment Network’s (MKEN) local community resource for enrollment support, has seen similar increases, with five times as many clicks for more information or help as the same time last year. In particular, we’ve seen nearly 300 clicks to call CWI for help from the site in November 2025 alone, which is the same as the full campaign (November 1, 2024  – January 15, 2025) last year.

“Given the many changes to the market and a reduction in funding, CWI has worked hard to simplify access to self-serve resources and our phone triage processes so that we can make best use of much more limited Navigator capacity,” said Allison Espeseth, Director, CWI. “For example, our website now offers a clearer entry point for consumers to get started on their own – learning about eligibility, creating an account, and exploring coverage options. Consumers are responding to those improvements and engaging more with our online resources at coveringwi.org, while we continue to offer our person-to-person support to as many as possible. And, we are so thankful that community partners are also extremely motivated and mobilized, which has created even more support across Milwaukee County specifically.”

Cross-sector partners demonstrated this commitment at a recent MKEN press conference and community learning session to launch the 2025-26 Open Enrollment season. Sponsored by the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership (MHCP) – MKEN and hosted by the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services, state and local government leaders spoke to the collective success of last year’s Open Enrollment period and helped clarify current opportunities for residents. They also emphasized the importance of increasing our multi-sector efforts and ensuring consumers can connect to critical resources.

Milwaukee County health systems, community health centers, and free clinics have notably increased the number of enrollment support staff, bolstering the help available at trusted points of care.

“Access to insurance is a critically important driver of health and access to care,” said Julia Harris Robinson, President and CEO, Outreach Community Health Centers (OCHC). “At OCHC, we’ve always made sure our patients had access to enrollment support, and this year, we’ve expanded that support to the broader community. Whether you are a patient or not, we are here to help you get the best coverage for yourself or your family.”

While there are fewer insurers in the market than in previous years, affordable plan options remain available.

“Yes, the market has changed, but there are still affordable options out there. It is possible they may look or be classified a bit differently,” said Justin Rivas, Manager, MKEN, Director of Community Health Initiatives, Milwaukee Health Care Partnership (MHCP). “Don’t give up because of what you may see or hear about costs. Navigators are seeing costs vary significantly on an individual, case-by-case basis. I encourage all residents who are thinking about getting coverage to use the help available and explore their options.”

Visit HealthyMKE.com or call CWI at 1-877-942-6837 with questions or for help signing up for Marketplace or Medicaid coverage. CWI has health insurance navigators who are knowledgeable and available to provide free help in person, over the phone, by chat, or by text.  Help is also available through enrollment counselors and assisters at local hospitals and clinics.

Keep the Focus, Bolster the Efforts – Partner Call to Action:

Share resources with your clients and community at events, through your digital channels, or in service interactions. Flyers, posters, social media, and blog content are available on HealthyMKE.com.

To explore any of these opportunities further, contact MKEN Manager Justin Rivas at jrivas@mkehcp.org.

The Milwaukee Enrollment Network (MKEN) is a consortium of more than 100 organizations committed to promoting adequate and affordable health insurance coverage, with a focus on low-income, uninsured, and underinsured people in Milwaukee County. MKEN is co-sponsored by the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership and Covering Wisconsin.

Covering Wisconsin (CWI) is the state’s federally certified and state-licensed health insurance Navigator agency. Based within the Division of Extension at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, CWI’s mission is to connect residents with and promote effective use of insurance coverage and other programs that support health. Through year-round free and unbiased service, CWI provides holistic health insurance help to any Wisconsinite, assisting with coverage selection, enrollment, use, payment, renewal, and more. In addition to strategically locating health insurance Navigators to best serve consumers around the state, CWI also creates easy-to-understand health materials, trains professionals and consumers on health policies and programs, distributes promotion and awareness campaigns, cultivates collaborative partnerships, and conducts outreach in coordination with public, private, and governmental agencies.

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