Open enrollment for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act ends Friday, but Floridians now get two extra weeks.

  • Open enrollment deadline for ACA is Friday
  • Florida, other states qualify for special enrollment period
  • Allows enrollment through Dec. 31

Federal health officials granted Floridians a special enrollment period because of the hurricane season. 

The Dept. of Health issued a guidance on Sept. 28 that anyone who went through the hurricanes this season -- which are classified as Special Enrollment Period-qualifying events -- and need more time, have until Dec. 31. 

The information was not widely publicized at the time.

Qualifying areas include Texas, Florida, Louisiana or other state meeting the level of "individual assistance or "public assistance" by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

To enroll under the special enrollment period, however, you can't go through HealthCare.gov. Instead, you have to call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 to request enrollment.

The Trump administration shortened the open enrollment period by six weeks this year. Nevertheless, millions have signed up for insurance through HealthCare.gov this year. Florida leads the way with 1,021,576 enrollees.