Key takeaways
- Open enrollment is a limited period each year when you can sign up for, change, or confirm health insurance for the following year. Insurance companies use this window to balance the number of people who use coverage with those who don’t, reducing financial risk.
- For plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace, open enrollment runs from November 1 to January 15. Employer plans typically offer 2 to 4 weeks during the third quarter, while Medicare open enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7.
- You can change or sign up for health insurance outside of open enrollment through special enrollment if you experience a qualifying life event like marriage, a new baby, or loss of coverage. You must make the change within 60 days of the qualifying event.
Overview
Health insurance companies restrict when you can change or start your health coverage to a certain period of a few weeks or months each year. This period is called open enrollment.
Usually, you can’t change your plan outside of open enrollment. That said, many exceptions do exist that might allow you to adjust your coverage.
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Definition of open enrollment
Open enrollment is the time when you can sign up, change, or confirm a health insurance plan for the following year. This means staying with your current health insurance, switching to a different one, or getting health insurance for the first time.
Open enrollment always happens before the start date of your coverage. For a health insurance plan that starts coverage on January 1, open enrollment typically closes a few weeks earlier.
The window for open enrollment depends on whether you’re getting a plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace, your employer, Medicare, or another source.
The open enrollment window reduces the risk to insurance companies. People who expect high health costs are usually more motivated to purchase insurance premiums, while those who don’t expect to need health services might delay the process.
Limiting the period when you can sign up for or change a health insurance plan ensures a balance of insured people who use the coverage and those who don’t.
During open enrollment, you have access to information about the health plans offered through the insurance company, their benefits, and the initial and monthly costs to you. Then, you can sign up for whichever plan suits your needs best.
| Did you know? If you experience a qualifying life event (such as marriage, job loss, or birth of a child), you may be eligible to enroll outside of open enrollment. |
What types of health insurance have open enrollment periods?
Some types of health insurance, such as Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), accept new enrollment year-round.
Other types of insurance companies have set specific enrollment periods, including:
- plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace established by the ACA
- plans through your employer
- Medicare
Open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace is every year from November 1 to January 15. Some states have their own marketplace and may set a different open enrollment period. A marketplace is a digital place where you can browse and compare various health benefits and companies, then shop the one for you and your family.
Companies offering health insurance coverage to employees also set open enrollment periods around the third quarter of the year, even though enrollment may happen at any time. It usually lasts 2 to 4 weeks. Your employer can let you know exactly how it works.
Medicare open enrollment is usually between October 15 and December 7 and may involve checking different coverages and benefits.
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Get free cardHow to prepare for open enrollment 2026
Open enrollment is your annual opportunity to review, compare, and choose the best health insurance plan for you and your family. Whether you get insurance through your employer, the Health Insurance Marketplace, or another provider, preparation is key to making an informed decision.
Use this checklist to stay organized and ensure you don’t miss a thing.
Step 1: Mark your calendar
The open enrollment period typically runs from mid-October to mid-December, with exact dates varying by provider.
- Employer plans: Check with your HR department for specific dates.
- Health Insurance Marketplace: Open enrollment usually runs from November 1, 2026, to January 15, 2027 (with coverage starting January 1, 2027).
Step 2: Review your previous coverage
Take time to reflect on your current plan’s performance over the past year:
- Plan type: Did the plan work for you?
- Costs:
- How much did you pay in premiums (monthly fees)?
- How much did you pay toward your deductible (the amount you pay before insurance kicks in)?
- What were your copays (fixed fees for services like doctor visits) and coinsurance (your share of costs after the deductible)?
- Claims history:
- Did you meet your deductible?
- Were there any services or prescriptions not covered by your plan?
- Did you face any surprise bills or unexpected out-of-pocket costs?
- Network:
- Were your preferred doctors, specialists, and hospitals in-network?
- Did you have to pay extra to see an out-of-network provider?
These questions can help you determine if you should change your plan.
Step 3: Consider your needs for 2027
Your health can change from year to year. Take time to evaluate:
- upcoming medical needs
- prescriptions you might have
- preventive care
- family planning
Step 4: Compare plan options
Look into all the different plans available to you and compare them against your specific needs. Think about prescription coverage, costs, and other benefits offered by the plans.
Step 5: Enroll!
Make sure to enroll before the deadline. Consider signing up for emails or texts from your insurance provider or the Marketplace to receive reminders about deadlines and plan updates.
| Pro tip: If you’re happy with your current plan, you may not need to take action as many plans auto-renew. However, always double-check to avoid surprises! |
Summary
The open enrollment period allows you to sign up for a new health insurance plan, whether one offered by your employer, Medicare, or the ACA through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Open enrollment usually happens for a few weeks once per year.
If you experience major life events — such as marriage, a new child, or loss of coverage — you may be able to change or sign up for health insurance outside of the open enrollment period.
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