When is Health Insurance Open Enrollment?

If you’re getting health insurance through an employer, open enrollment is typically at the end of each year. When is open enrollment for health insurance if you’re buying it on your own? In the past, it’s been from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15, with coverage starting the following Jan. 1. The Department of Health and Human Services has proposed extending that period to Nov. 1 to Jan. 15. Learn more about open enrollment for health insurance. 

Key Health Insurance Open Enrollment Dates for 2022 Coverage

• Open enrollment has typically been from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15.
• Some states have longer enrollment periods.
• Some states still have open enrollment for 2021 open, including California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York and Vermont as well as Washington, D.C.
• The Department of Health and Human Services has proposed extending open enrollment to end Jan. 15 

Quick Look: The 5 Best Carriers for Open Enrollment Health Insurance

• Best for Nationwide Coverage: BlueCross BlueShield
• Best for PPO Plans: Humana
• Best for Preventative Care: Molina
• Best for Member Support: Aetna
• Best for Large Network and Flexible Plan Options: National General

Open Enrollment Health Insurance Options: The 5 Best Carriers

Ready to find the best health insurance possible? Here are a few of our favorite options.

1. BlueCross BlueShield

BlueCross BlueShield offers coverage to residents across all 50 states. This means that it can offer you a large provider network. The company partners with local health care companies in different states. 

The company you work with directly depends on which state you live in. For this reason, customer service can vary across its local partner companies. Overall, this insurance company is a great choice because it’s accepted at a large number of doctors’ offices and medical facilities.

2. Humana

Humana offers a number of affordable health insurance options that work for its members. Most of its affordable plans are health maintenance organization (HMO) plans. This means that you can only receive coverage for visits with providers in Humana’s network. 

Since Humana is a large health insurance company with a wide range of participating providers, this shouldn’t be much of an issue. Humana provides competitive pricing on its premiums, no matter your age.

3. Molina Healthcare

Molina Healthcare offers several policy tiers to meet the needs of all customers. This health insurance company is only available in select states, so its network of providers is more limited than some of the other health insurance companies. However, Molina is unique in a couple of different ways. 

It offers physical clinics and health centers in the states where its coverage is available. It also offers a number of wellness services to help its members make healthy decisions. For example, Molina Healthcare offers discounts for weight loss and smoking cessation programs.

4. Aetna

Aetna offers a wide range of health insurance plans. Whether you’re seeking an individual, family or employer plan, Aetna likely has an attractive option for you. It also offers Medicare plans for qualified individuals. 

You can also enroll in a health savings plan with Aetna. You can combine it with a high-deductible health plan to help you save money on any medical expenses you have. 

5. National General

Are you in need of a short term insurance option? You may want to check out National General. This company has been around since 1920 and specializes in short term policies. 

It offers coverage for many routine medical needs, such as doctor visits, diagnostic testing and visits to emergency rooms and urgent care facilities. It also offers a quick turnaround time so you can get covered sooner rather than later. National General’s policies do tend to have premiums that are higher than average, but it can offer good coverage if you’re short on options.

What is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance?

Open enrollment is an annual time when you can start, stop or change your health insurance. Employers typically have open enrollment annually for health insurance and other benefits. If you’re buying it on your own, then your state’s Health Insurance Marketplace will also have an annual open enrollment. 

How to Sign Up During Open Enrollment

It can be confusing to know how to get health insurance. During the open enrollment period, you can enroll in a health insurance plan through the Marketplace. The Marketplace is a service that can help you find, compare and enroll in affordable health insurance plans. 

To enroll in a health plan using the Marketplace, you must:

• Live in the United States
• Be either a U.S. citizen or national

You are not eligible for a health insurance plan through the Marketplace if you: 

• Are incarcerated
• Have Medicare coverage (you can verify eligibility for Medicare here)

Most people use the Marketplace to find affordable health insurance. It’s operated by the federal government for most states, although other states run their own Marketplace.

You can enroll in a plan during open enrollment in a few different ways:

• Online on either the federal or your state Marketplace
• Calling 800-318-2596
• Mailing in a paper application

No matter which way you choose to enroll, you must submit information about your household and income. This information will be used to determine the types of plans you are eligible for. You may be eligible for premium tax credits and other savings to make your plan more affordable. You may also qualify for coverage through Medicaid and/or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in your state.

If you own a small business, you may be eligible for the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP). This program can allow you to offer affordable health insurance coverage to your employees. 

If you are already enrolled in your employer’s health insurance program, you should speak with your employer about continuing coverage. Your employer will be responsible for signing you up for coverage under an employer-sponsored health plan.

What Happens if You Don’t Sign Up During Open Enrollment?

If you don’t sign up for a health insurance plan during the open enrollment period, you may not be able to receive coverage for the upcoming year. In some cases, your state may extend the enrollment deadline. It’s important to check with your state to see what other options you may have. In most states, if you miss the open enrollment period, you’re at risk of being uninsured in the upcoming year. 

If your circumstances change at any point throughout the year, you may be able to purchase a new health insurance plan. This is called a special enrollment period. You may also be eligible for premium subsidies if you are an eligible applicant. You must experience a qualifying event. See some qualifying events below.

Loss of Health Coverage

If you lose your health insurance at any point during the year, you may be able to access the special enrollment period. There are a few reasons you might lose health coverage. You may become unemployed and lose your employer-sponsored health insurance plan. Another is if you turn 26 and no longer qualify to be on your parents’ health insurance plan.

Change in Household Status

If there is a change within your household, you may be eligible to enroll in health insurance outside of the open enrollment period. Some of these changes may include getting married or divorced, having or adopting a child and a death in the family.

Change in Income or Residence

If there is a change in your residence, you may have to change your health insurance plan. 

If your income greatly increases or decreases, your qualification for your current health insurance plan may change. 

Become a U.S. Citizen

If you become a citizen of the United States outside of the open enrollment period, you will need access to a new health insurance plan.

Leave Incarceration

Ending your time in jail or prison is a qualifying life event that will allow you to enroll in a health plan outside of the open enrollment period.

Medicaid/CHIP Eligibility

If you qualify for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), you can enroll in coverage at any time of the year. You will also be eligible for a special enrollment period if there is a change during the year that makes you no longer eligible for these programs. 

If you become eligible for an employer-sponsored health plan at some point throughout the year, you will be able to enroll in your employer’s plan at that time. If none of these options are available to you, your options for health coverage outside of the open enrollment period are limited.

You may be able to receive coverage from policies that are not regulated by the Affordable Care Act. Most of these plans are designed to provide supplemental coverage and not intended to act as your only health coverage. Some of these options are:

• Farm Bureau plans: If you are a member of the Farm Bureau and live in Kansas, Tennessee or Iowa, this may be an option for you.
• Health care sharing ministry plans: These are faith-based nonprofit organizations that pool members’ money to share each other’s medical expenses. 
• Short term health plans: Short term health plans are an option for coverage if you need to shore up the gap between your current plan and the next plan. 

How to Get Health Insurance After Open Enrollment Ends

If you missed your state’s open enrollment period to buy health insurance, you have other options. 

Special Enrollment Periods

Special enrollment periods are opportunities to sign up for health insurance coverage outside of open enrollment periods. You typically qualify for a special enrollment  if you’ve experienced a life event like marriage, divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, moving or losing other health insurance coverage. You may have 60 days before or after the event to enroll in a plan, depending on the type of event. 

Health insurance plans from employers must allow at least 30 days for special enrollments. 

Short-Term Health Insurance

Short-term health insurance is another health insurance option if you’ve missed open enrollment and you don’t qualify for a special enrollment period. 

Short-term health insurance is different from traditional health insurance, though. It’s not required to follow the rules for health insurance plans set by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). For example, insurance companies can deny your application for coverage based on your health. They also aren’t required to cover pre-existing conditions, including pregnancy. 

Short-term health plans also tend to have high deductibles, and they have annual coverage limits. This is the most the plan will pay in benefits in a given year. Depending on the laws in your state, they can last up to 12 months and may be able to be renewed for a total of 36 months of coverage. 

Short-term insurance plans do provide some coverage, and they’re less expensive than unsubsidized health insurance plans. If you’re considering buying short-term health insurance, be sure to review the plan details carefully so you know exactly what you’re buying. 

How to Compare Health Insurance on the Marketplace

If you’re buying a plan from your state’s Health Insurance Marketplace, there’s a lot to consider. First, be sure to enter your financial information accurately, as this is what determines your eligibility for tax credits. These credits help cover the premiums (monthly costs) of your health insurance, which lowers your costs. Here are other factors to consider: 

• Metal tiers: The Marketplace divides plans into 4 metal categories: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Bronze plans have the lowest premiums and the highest coinsurance, which means you pay more when you need care. Platinum plans have the highest premiums and the lowest coinsurance. This means you pay more each month but less when you need care. 
• Plan type: Health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and preferred provider organizations (PPOs) are 2 common types of plans you’ll see on the Marketplace. Both plan types have a network, which is a group of physicians and other healthcare providers who have contracted with the insurance company. With an HMO, you’re typically required to see doctors within the network unless you’re experiencing an emergency. With a PPO, you can see out-of-network providers, but you’ll pay more if you do. 
• Deductible: This is the amount you’ll pay for covered services before your plan starts paying. 
• Copays and coinsurance: Copays are a fixed dollar amount you pay for items or services. For example, you might pay $5 for a generic prescription. Coinsurance is a percentage you pay for an item or service after you’ve met your deductible. For example, you might pay 20% of the cost of durable medical equipment like a wheelchair. 
• Out-of-pocket maximum: This is the most you’ll pay out of pocket for covered services each year. 

How to Buy Health Insurance on the Marketplace

To buy health insurance from the Marketplace, you’ll need to visit your state’s Marketplace website. We list some below, or you can visit Healthcare.gov, which will direct you to your state’s Marketplace. 

From there, you’ll need to create an account and answer questions about your age, gender, income, tax filing status, employment status and dependents. You’ll also need to enter the Social Security numbers of everyone in your household, even if they’re not applying for coverage. 

Once you’ve completed your application, you’ll find out whether you’re eligible for a tax credit and how much that credit is. You can then review plans in your area and choose the best health insurance for your budget and needs. Once you select a plan, you’ll receive information on how to pay your first premium. 

Buy From the Marketplace in Your State

As noted above, some states have their own marketplaces. In these states, you’ll need to complete the steps outlined above on the state Marketplace website rather than through the federal exchange. Here are state-specific marketplaces. 

List: State Health Insurance Marketplaces

• California State Marketplace: Covered California
• Colorado State Marketplace: Connect for Health Colorado
• Connecticut State Marketplace: Access Health CT
• District of Columbia State Marketplace: DC Health Link
• Idaho State Marketplace: Your Health Idaho
• Maryland State Marketplace: Maryland Health Connection
• Massachusetts State Marketplace: Massachusetts Health Connector
• Minnesota State Marketplace: MNsure
• Nevada State Marketplace: Nevada Health Link
• New Jersey State Marketplace: Get Covered NJ
• New York State Marketplace: New York State of Health
• Pennsylvania State Marketplace: Pennie
• Rhode Island State Marketplace: HealthSource RI
• Vermont State Marketplace: Vermont Health Connect
• Washington State Marketplace: Washington Healthplanfinder

Choosing Health Insurance

Open enrollment is a great time to buy health insurance. Whether you’re buying a plan from an employer or the Marketplace, dig into the plan details before deciding which one to buy. Explore Benzinga’s insurance information to learn more about ways to protect your family’s financial future. 

Frequently Asked Questions