By Benjamin Finnerty (S), REALTOR® (RS-83812) with Keller Williams Realty Maui · Kīhei, Maui · 808-481-9748

Quick Answer: If you’re moving to Maui, plan your health insurance before you arrive. Hawaiʻi’s Prepaid Health Care Act requires most employers to cover employees working 20+ hours a week, and HealthCare.gov open enrollment for 2027 runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Choose by December 15 for coverage starting January 1.

I’m Benjamin Finnerty, a REALTOR® in Kīhei with Keller Williams Realty Maui. Health insurance when you move to Maui deserves a spot on your plan right alongside housing and cost of living. The timing matters this year because open enrollment is weeks away and Maui’s hospital capacity changed in 2026. Here’s what to know before you make the move.

How does employer health insurance work in Hawaiʻi?

Hawaiʻi has its own employer mandate. Under the Prepaid Health Care Act, passed in 1974 and administered by the State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, most employers must provide health coverage to employees who work at least 20 hours a week for four consecutive weeks.

The employee’s share of the premium is capped at 1.5% of monthly gross wages, or half the premium if that’s less, per DLIR. If you’re moving to Maui for a job, ask the employer when coverage starts and what it costs to add anyone else to your plan.

When is open enrollment for health insurance on Maui?

For 2027 coverage, HealthCare.gov open enrollment runs Sunday, November 1, 2026 through Friday, January 15, 2027. Hawaiʻi uses the federal marketplace at HealthCare.gov.

Date	What happens
Nov. 1, 2026	Open enrollment begins
Dec. 15, 2026	Last day to choose a plan for coverage starting Jan. 1, 2027
Jan. 15, 2027	Open enrollment ends; coverage starts Feb. 1, 2027

A 2025 federal rule would have shortened open enrollment starting with this cycle, but a federal court vacated that provision in June 2026, and CMS has confirmed the November 1 to January 15 window, per Forbes and other coverage. HHS has appealed, so later years could change.

Two other things to know for 2027: the enhanced premium tax credits that started in 2021 expired December 31, 2025, so subsidies are back to pre-2021 rules. Two insurers, HMSA and Kaiser Permanente, offer Hawaiʻi marketplace plans, and 2027 premiums before subsidies are rising, so compare carefully.

Can I sign up for health insurance after I move to Maui?

Usually, yes. A permanent move to a new ZIP code or county generally qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period, giving you 60 days from the move to choose a marketplace plan, per CMS guidance updated March 2026.

There’s a catch: in most cases you must have had qualifying health coverage for at least one day in the 60 days before your move. Exceptions include moves from outside the U.S. or a U.S. territory. Moving only for medical treatment or a vacation doesn’t qualify. If you’re timing a closing or a move, keep your current coverage active until your new plan starts. My Maui moving timeline for your car, pets and closing is a good companion checklist.

What hospitals are on Maui?

Maui Memorial Medical Center in Wailuku is the island’s main acute-care hospital, with 219 licensed acute beds as of 2024, per the State Health Planning and Development Agency. It’s operated by Maui Health, a Kaiser Permanente affiliate that took over Maui Memorial, Kula Hospital and Lānaʻi Community Hospital on July 1, 2017.

Kula Hospital in Upcountry Maui closed after damage from the March 2026 Kona low storms. On September 22, 2026, the State and Kaiser Permanente announced a restoration plan estimated at about $65 million ($42 million from the State, $23 million from Kaiser). No reopening date has been set, and the hospital’s emergency department remains closed, though Kula Clinic is open, per Maui Health. Maui Health also says a Clinical Decision Unit, part of an emergency department expansion at Maui Memorial, is set to open in December 2026.

In West Maui, Kaiser Permanente announced on June 30, 2026 a planned permanent Lahaina clinic on Honoapiʻilani Highway, with no opening date yet. Hawaiʻi also has a documented physician shortage, so it’s smart to research providers and new-patient availability before you move.

My Take: What I’m Telling People Moving to Maui

Build health coverage into your move plan the same way you build in your down payment and shipping costs. If you’re moving for a job, get the employer’s plan details in writing before you sign a lease or close on a home. If you’re self-employed or won’t have employer coverage, price marketplace plans during open enrollment, and remember that subsidies are less generous than in 2025.

Location matters too. If you’re weighing Upcountry against Central or South Maui, note driving distances to Maui Memorial in Wailuku while Kula Hospital’s emergency department is closed. For a broader budget view, see my post on Hawaiʻi income tax when you move to Maui and my guide to living in Wailuku and Kahului.

This is general information, not tax, legal or insurance advice. Confirm with a CPA, Hawaiʻi attorney or licensed insurance professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Hawaiʻi employers have to provide health insurance?
Generally, yes. The Prepaid Health Care Act requires most employers to cover employees working at least 20 hours a week for four consecutive weeks.

When is open enrollment for 2027 health insurance in Hawaiʻi?
November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. Pick a plan by December 15 for January 1 coverage.

Does moving to Maui let me sign up outside open enrollment?
Usually. A permanent move to a new ZIP code or county generally triggers a 60-day Special Enrollment Period, if you had qualifying coverage before the move.

Is Kula Hospital open?
Not as of October 2026. The hospital and its emergency department remain closed after March 2026 storm damage; Kula Clinic is open. A restoration plan was announced September 22, 2026.

Ask Benjamin

If you’re planning a move to Maui, I’m happy to help you think through areas, timing and housing costs as part of your plan. I’m Benjamin Finnerty. Call or text 808-481-9748 or email benjamin@the808team.com.

Sources: Hawaiʻi DLIR Disability Compensation Division (Prepaid Health Care Act); CMS Special Enrollment Periods guide (March 2026); HealthCare.gov; Forbes (Sept. 18, 2026); ASTHO (Jan. 20, 2026); State Health Planning and Development Agency (2024 utilization data); Maui Health (June 30 and Sept. 22, 2026 releases); Maui Now (April 25 and Sept. 12, 2026); Hawaii News Now and Star-Advertiser (Sept. 23, 2026).