Alyssa Lane
The open enrollment period is the designated time each year when you can purchase and apply for health insurance for the upcoming year without a qualifying event. This period typically runs from November 1 through January 15, but the dates vary across states. If you miss the open enrollment period, you may have to wait until the next year to make any changes to your insurance plan. However, if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period due to certain life events, such as losing health coverage, moving, getting married, or having a baby, you can enroll outside of the open enrollment period.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Open Enrollment Period | Typically in the fall, from November 1 to January 15. |
| Coverage Start Dates | January 1 for plans selected by December 15; February 1 for plans selected after December 15 but before the January deadline. |
| Special Enrollment Period | A time outside of Open Enrollment when you can enroll or make changes due to a qualifying life event, such as getting married, having a baby, moving, or losing health coverage. |
| Medicaid and CHIP | No open enrollment period; you can enroll at any time, and coverage can start immediately. |
| Short-Term Health Insurance | Available outside of annual open enrollment if you haven't experienced a qualifying life event. |
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What You'll Learn
Open enrollment periods
Open enrollment is a period that happens once a year, typically in the fall, when you can purchase and apply for health insurance for the upcoming year without a qualifying event. This period usually lasts a few weeks. The Affordable Care Act's (ACA) open enrollment period typically runs from November 1 through January 15, but the dates vary in some states that run their own exchanges. In most states, December 15 is the deadline to get a January 1 effective date.
During open enrollment, you can enroll in an ACA-compliant individual and family health insurance plan or make changes to your existing coverage through the Marketplace in your state. If you get health insurance through your job, Medicare, or the ACA marketplace, you will have an open enrollment period. For example, individual and family ACA marketplace plans have an open enrollment period from November 1 through January 15, in most states.
If you miss the open enrollment period, you may have to wait until the next one to make any changes. After January 15, you can only purchase insurance or make changes if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. A Special Enrollment Period is a period outside of Open Enrollment when you can enroll in or change Marketplace plans due to a life change, like getting married, having a baby, moving, or losing health coverage.
If you need coverage during a time when annual open enrollment isn’t available and you have not experienced a qualifying life event, you can buy short-term health insurance or a fixed-benefit health plan.
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Special Enrollment Period
Open enrollment is the designated time each year when you can purchase and apply for health insurance for the upcoming year without a qualifying event. It typically occurs in the fall and is limited to a few weeks. For example, the open enrollment period for 2025 is November 1 to January 15.
However, if you miss the open enrollment period or need to make changes to your health insurance outside of this window, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). A Special Enrollment Period is a period outside of Open Enrollment when you can enroll in or change Marketplace plans. It is triggered by certain life events or qualifying events, such as losing health coverage, moving, getting married, having a baby, or adopting a child.
To qualify for a Special Enrollment Period due to losing health coverage, you must have experienced this event in the past 60 days or expect to lose coverage in the next 60 days. Losing Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage may qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period if it occurred within the past 90 days. Additionally, losing coverage through a parent, spouse, or family member due to age or other circumstances may also qualify you for an SEP.
Moving to the United States from a foreign country or territory is another qualifying event for an SEP. However, moving solely for medical treatment or vacation does not qualify. Getting divorced or legally separated can also trigger an SEP if it results in a loss of health insurance.
Finally, the death of someone on your Marketplace plan, causing you to lose your current health plan, is another qualifying event for a Special Enrollment Period. Since qualifying life events can happen at any time, you typically have 60 days before or 60 days following the event to enroll in a new plan.
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Medicaid and CHIP
Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide free or low-cost health coverage to eligible low-income adults, families, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Each state has its own requirements and income eligibility rules for Medicaid and CHIP, and eligible income levels, coverage, and costs may differ between states.
Medicaid programs must follow federal guidelines, and all states must offer young people transitioning from foster care to independent adulthood Medicaid coverage until they turn 26. Some states have expanded their Medicaid programs to cover adults below a certain income level, and some states cover children of state employees. To be eligible for CHIP, individuals must meet certain financial and non-financial criteria and be residents of the state in which they are receiving CHIP. CHIP beneficiaries must be either citizens of the United States or certain qualified non-citizens, such as lawful permanent residents.
You can apply for Medicaid or CHIP at any time of the year, and if eligible, your coverage can start immediately. If you apply for Medicaid, you may also find out if your children qualify for CHIP. You can apply by creating an account with the Health Insurance Marketplace and filling out an application. If it appears that anyone in your household qualifies for Medicaid or CHIP, your information will be sent to your state agency, and they will contact you about enrollment. If you are denied Medicaid or CHIP coverage, your state will send your contact information to the Marketplace, and you will receive a letter about getting Marketplace coverage.
If you already have Marketplace coverage, you can end it when your Medicaid starts, or you can keep both if you tell your state agency. If you have limited Medicaid coverage, you can apply through the Marketplace and find out if you qualify for full-benefit coverage through either Medicaid or a Marketplace plan with savings based on your income.
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ACA-compliant plans
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is also referred to as Obamacare. ACA-compliant health insurance plans are available for individuals and families. The ACA's open enrollment period is an annual window during which individuals and families can compare the various health plans that are available and select the one that best fits their needs for the coming year.
The open enrollment period typically runs from November 1 through January 15, but the dates vary in some states that run their own exchanges. In most states, in order to have healthcare coverage by January 1, you'll need to enroll by December 15. For state-run marketplaces, there may be different enrollment dates. In 2025, the open enrollment period for 2026 coverage ran from November 1, 2025, through January 15, 2026, but some state-run exchanges have different schedules.
During the open enrollment period, you can enroll in an ACA-compliant individual and family health insurance plan or make changes to your existing coverage through the Marketplace in your state. Outside of the open enrollment period, you can only sign up for ACA-compliant individual and family health insurance (or switch to a different plan) if you're eligible for a special enrollment period, most of which are triggered by qualifying life events such as moving, losing other coverage, getting married, or having a baby.
If you want help with the process, assistance is available via local insurance brokers and Navigators, as well as enhanced direct enrollment entities.
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Short-term insurance
Open enrollment is the designated time each year when you can purchase and apply for health insurance for the upcoming year without a qualifying event. In most states, the open enrollment period for Individual & Family ACA Marketplace plans is from November 1 through January 15. During this time, you can enroll in or change plans for the upcoming year.
If you need coverage outside of the annual open enrollment period, you can buy short-term health insurance. Short-term health insurance, also called temporary health insurance or term health insurance, is a good option for those who are healthy and do not generally require health services. It provides limited coverage for a short time, typically up to 4 months, and can bridge gaps until you can get on a more permanent plan. Short-term plans are more affordable than major medical coverage, but they do not offer the same benefits. For example, most short-term plans do not cover pre-existing conditions, prescription medications, maternity care, or mental health services. Short-term plans may also have waiting periods at the beginning of the plan and may have an overall maximum payout amount.
If you are considering a short-term plan, be sure to carefully review the details of your plan to understand any exclusions or limitations. Short-term plans are not ACA health plans and do not guarantee the essential health benefits and protections of Affordable Care Act plans.
Short-term health insurance can be a useful option for individuals who need immediate coverage during transitional periods, such as a job change, or for those who need temporary coverage while travelling internationally.
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Frequently asked questions
Insurance enrollment typically starts in the fall, usually between November and January. In 2025, the open enrollment period began on November 1 and ended on January 15.
The open enrollment period is an annual window during which individuals and families can compare and select from the various health plans that are available.
If you miss the open enrollment period, you may have to wait until the next one to make any changes to your insurance plan. However, you can apply for a Special Enrollment Period if you've had certain life events, such as losing health coverage, moving, getting married, having a baby, or adopting a child.
The Special Enrollment Period is a period outside of the yearly Open Enrollment Period when you can enroll in or change your Marketplace plan due to a qualifying life event.
