Orlando Harmon
Open enrollment is the time of year when most people sign up for health insurance. This window lasts for just a few months, and it might be the only time of year you can switch your health insurance or get a new plan. If you miss the deadline, you might not be able to buy health insurance until the next open enrollment period. The open enrollment period is designed to help keep the cost of health insurance down. If you get health insurance through your employer, the enrollment window will depend on your company and the coverage it offers. However, if you get health insurance through Covered California, open enrollment runs annually from November 1 through January 31.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Open Enrollment Start Date | November 1, 2024 |
| Open Enrollment End Date | Varies by state; December 15, 2024, for coverage to start on January 1, 2025 |
| Special Enrollment Period | Available outside of Open Enrollment due to life changes like marriage, a new baby, moving, or losing health coverage |
| Short-Term Insurance | An option in some states if you miss the Open Enrollment Period and don't qualify for an SEP |
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What You'll Learn
Open Enrollment deadlines
Open enrollment is the time of year when most people sign up for health insurance. It is also the time when people can renew their existing plans or shop for new ones. This window lasts for a few months, and in many cases, it is the only time of year that people can switch their health insurance. If you miss this window, you might not be able to buy health insurance until the next open enrollment period.
The open enrollment period is designed to help keep the cost of health insurance down. Before the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, passed in 2010, insurance companies kept costs down by sometimes refusing coverage to those who were sick. The ACA made this practice illegal. Health insurance companies could no longer deny covered services to someone due to a pre-existing condition and had to deliver free preventative care to everyone with a plan. Open enrollment became a way to help keep costs down while still giving people ample time to review their options and enroll in a health plan.
The open enrollment period for Covered California, a free service created as part of the ACA to connect Californians with high-quality health insurance, runs annually from November 1 through January 31. When you enroll in November and December, the coverage is for the following year and starts on January 1. Enrolling in January means your plan begins on February 1.
The ACA open enrollment period for individual plans in 2024 started on November 1. The deadline to enroll for coverage to start in January 2025 was Sunday, December 15, 2024. The final deadline for enrolling in 2025 is January 15, but coverage won't start until February 1.
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Special Enrollment Periods
- Loss of health insurance: Losing your health insurance, whether through job loss, the loss of a family member, divorce, or legal separation, is a qualifying event. If you or anyone in your household has lost or expects to lose coverage in the specified time frame (typically 60 days), you may be eligible for an SEP.
- Household changes: Significant changes in your household composition, such as getting married, having a baby, adopting a child, or placing a child for foster care, can qualify you for an SEP. In most cases, your coverage can start from the day of the event, even if you enroll up to 60 days afterward.
- Moving: Relocating to a new address, including moving to the US from a foreign country or territory, may qualify you for an SEP. However, moving solely for medical treatment or vacation typically does not qualify.
- Incorrect information or changes in your plan: If you joined a plan based on misleading or incorrect information, or if there are significant changes to your plan's provider network, you may be eligible for an SEP. These cases are often evaluated individually.
- Medicare Advantage Plan adjustments: If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan and move outside of its service area, you have the option to switch to a new plan or return to Original Medicare during a Special Enrollment Period. This period typically lasts for two full months after your move.
- Other exceptional circumstances: Certain unexpected events, such as natural disasters or emergencies, may also qualify you for an SEP. If you believe you have an exceptional circumstance not mentioned here, you can contact the relevant authorities to discuss your situation.
Remember that Special Enrollment Period details can vary based on the specific life event and the type of insurance plan involved. It is always a good idea to review the requirements and qualifications for SEPs to ensure you understand your options for enrolling in or changing your insurance coverage outside of the standard Open Enrollment Period.
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Employer-provided insurance
Unlike the individual insurance market, the government does not set the annual open enrollment period for employer-sponsored health insurance. The start and end dates of this window vary from one employer to another, as does the length of the open enrollment period. The window of time for employees to make health insurance decisions may differ depending on the corporate calendar, insurance broker, and health insurance provider.
Eligible employees can enroll in employer-sponsored health plans when they first become eligible for coverage and annually during the employer's open enrollment period. The annual open enrollment period is also an opportunity to add or remove family members from the plan, disenroll from coverage, or switch to a different plan if the employer offers multiple coverage options.
Special enrollment periods give employees an opportunity to make changes to their coverage outside of the open enrollment period. Special enrollment periods are triggered by certain qualifying life events, such as getting married, having a baby, moving, or losing health coverage. Special enrollment periods generally last at least 30 days, and employees have the same options during this time as they would during open enrollment.
If an employee misses the open enrollment deadline and does not qualify for a special enrollment period, they may be able to find a short-term health plan to provide coverage while they are between plans. These plans typically last between 3 and 12 months, but they do not usually cover pre-existing conditions.
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State-specific deadlines
California
Covered California is a service created under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare. It provides Californians with access to high-quality health insurance and financial assistance to pay for it. The open enrollment period for Covered California typically runs annually from November 1 through January 31. This period allows individuals to buy health insurance or change their existing plans for the upcoming year. Enrollment in November and December provides coverage starting from January 1, while enrolling in January results in a plan beginning on February 1.
Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, the deadline for Affordable Care Act insurance enrollment for coverage starting on January 1 falls around mid-December. For 2025 coverage starting on New Year's Day, the deadline was Sunday, December 15, 2024. Those who enroll after this date will have coverage starting on February 1. The final deadline for enrolling in Wisconsin is typically around mid-January, with a specific date of January 15, 2025.
Michigan
Like Wisconsin, Michigan's deadline for Affordable Care Act insurance enrollment for coverage starting on January 1 is typically around mid-December. For 2025 coverage, the deadline was also Sunday, December 15, 2024. After this date, the next available coverage period starts on February 1.
It's important to note that these deadlines may change from year to year, and there may be special enrollment periods outside of the standard open enrollment window due to qualifying life events, such as marriage, having a baby, moving, or losing health coverage. These life events can trigger a Special Enrollment Period (SEP), allowing individuals to enroll in or change their Marketplace plans outside of the regular open enrollment dates.
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Missed enrollment options
If you missed the Open Enrollment Period (OEP) deadline, you may still be able to apply for a short-term health insurance plan in some states. Short-term health insurance plans can be purchased outside of OEP for up to four months in a 12-month period. However, they are not considered "minimum essential coverage" under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and may not cover pre-existing conditions.
If you experience a qualifying life event, such as getting married, having a baby, or losing health insurance through a job, you may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) outside of OEP. You typically have 60 days before or after the qualifying event to enroll in a plan if you qualify for an SEP. American Indians and Alaska Natives can enroll in exchange plans year-round, and there is also a year-round enrollment option for subsidy-eligible applicants whose household income does not exceed 150% of the federal poverty level.
If you are unable to enroll in a spouse's plan or through your employer, you could consider enrolling in individual supplemental insurance plans directly through an insurance provider. However, you may lose out on discounted rates offered by your employer. Other options include Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), although these programs have specific eligibility requirements.
In certain states, members of Farm Bureaus may be able to enroll in Farm Bureau plans that are not considered insurance and are exempt from state and federal insurance regulations. Healthcare sharing ministry plans are also available in many places, although they are not considered insurance and do not provide the same coverage guarantees.
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Frequently asked questions
Open enrollment for insurance starts on November 1 and ends on January 31.
Open enrollment is a period during which most people sign up for health insurance. It is also the only time of the year when you can switch your health insurance or get a new plan.
If you miss the open enrollment deadline, you might not be able to buy health insurance until the next open enrollment period. However, there are some exceptions, such as qualifying for special enrollment due to a major life change.
You may qualify for special enrollment if you experience certain life events such as getting married, having a baby, moving, or losing your health coverage. You typically have 60 days before or after the qualifying event to enroll in a plan if you qualify for special enrollment.
You can sign up to receive email reminders and other important information about open enrollment deadlines on the Health Insurance Marketplace website.
