Open Enrollment Explained

Open Enrollment: Dates and Strategy

The annual window

Open enrollment for marketplace plans generally runs from November 1 to mid-January, with exact dates varying by state. Enroll by mid-December in most states and coverage starts January 1.

Missed it? You may still have a path

Qualifying life events open a 60-day special enrollment period any time of year: losing other coverage, marriage, a new baby, a move to a new coverage area, and more. Certain private plans also enroll year-round.

How to use the window well

• Do not auto-renew blindly. Networks, drug lists, and prices change every year.
• Update your income estimate so your subsidy is right.
• Re-verify your doctors, because networks shift annually.

We run this checklist with every client each fall, and it routinely finds savings.