Health Access & Public Health

Open enrollment ended January 31, 2026. Special Enrollment periods are available to people with covered life changes.

Last-reviewed: March 9, 2026

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Latest news

  • Open enrollment ended January 31, 2026.
  • Special enrollment periods are open to people who have experienced life changes, which include loss of employer-provided coverage, aged out of their parents’ coverage, household size has changed, immigration status has changed, recently moved to RI, and for other reasons.
  • 10,000 Rhode Islanders opted out of health insurance due to increases in 2026 premiums. RI is looking to state budget fixes, and if approved, would go in effect for 2027.
  • Medicaid eligibility currently remains unchanged. However, the federal act passed in the summer of 2025 (HR.1), included new rules that will change eligibility and add work requirements. These changes are not expected to be implemented until fall 2026/early 2027. Read more about Medicaid updates here.
  • Medicare General Enrollment for Part A and/or Part B is open and runs through March 31, 2026. Enrollment is through the Social Security Administration.
  • Medicare Advantage Open enrollment is open and runs through March 31. During this time, people can drop Medicare Advantage and choose other Original Medicare or switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan. Justice in Aging has this fact sheet.
  • The RI Dept. of Health has ordered RI pharmacists to continue giving COVID-19 vaccines to all patients age 3 and older. The RI Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner has also required all insurers to cover the vaccine costs.

Medicare and Medicaid

  • All children and pregnant people in Rhode Island are eligible for health insurance under RIteCare. Immigrant families with data privacy concerns can review this factsheet for more information.
  • Uninsured Rhode Islanders eligible for Medicaid can apply at any time through HealthSourceRI.
  • Information about Medicare plans, including special enrollment periods, can be found at Medicare.gov.
  • Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) are no longer eligible to purchase health insurance from the health insurance marketplace. Under the Biden Administration, DACA recipients were considered “lawfully present” and eligible to buy health insurance. On June 20, 2025 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) removed DACA from the definition of “lawfully present.”

HealthSourceRI and Private Health Insurance

  • HealthSourceRI is the first stop for individuals and families in Rhode Island looking for health insurance, whether through Medicaid, subsidized through the marketplace, or direct pay without subsidies.
  • Open enrollment ends January 31, 2026.
  • RIPIN’s Healthcare Advocate assists people covered by Medicare and Medicaid with insurance-related challenges such as billing disputes or coverage denials. Contact the Advocate online or by calling RIPIN’s insurance consumer hotline at (401) 270-0101.
  • ProPublica’s Claim File tool helps patients request the information that their insurer used to deny coverage. Patients should know that they should not let any appeal deadline pass while waiting to receive the information – deadlines are on the notice of denial.

Loss of Health Insurance

  • If someone loses their Medicaid coverage and is no longer eligible for Medicaid, they will be enrolled in an insurance plan through HealthSource and two months of premiums will be paid by the state. More information here.
  • If someone loses their Medicaid coverage but thinks they are still eligible, they should follow the instructions on the notice and appeal the decision. They can also call the RIPIN call center for questions and support with their appeal.

Access to healthcare and public health information

General

  • The RI Department of Health (RIDOH) provides a variety of public health information. Note: RIDOH’s website frequently links to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) information. Some of the CDC’s links are now longer active but can be found through the CDC online archives.
  • RIDOH has this information about recent recalls.
  • RI passed a new law permitting a 3 year pilot program that will remove prior authorizations for services on primary care ordered services.

Free and low-cost healthcare

National Suicide Prevention Hotline and other Behavioral Healthcare Resources

  • 988 Lifeline is a national suicide & crisis hotline available 24/7 via phone, chat, and text. It does not replace 911 for emergencies, but rather connects people who are experiencing a mental health crisis to a counselor. FAQ here. Services are available in English and Spanish, with interpreter services available for hundreds of other languages. There are also specialized services available to LGBTQIA+ youth; select the prompt when texting or calling. TTY users can use their preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.
  • The Department of Behavioral Healthcare Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals has this resource guide for young people transitioning into adulthood which has information about healthcare, employment, decision making and more.
  • Kids’ Link RI is a triage and referral service for parents and caregivers seeking behavioral healthcare for their children.

Key Resources

Advocacy Corner

Individual Advocacy

Supporting people who need access to health care appointments or accessing medication or vaccines are some important ways care team members support access to health and public health.

Policy Advocacy

Local and national health advocacy can address access to primary care, health insurance, affordable medication or vaccines. Organizations involved in these issues include:

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