When Can You Sign Up for Health Insurance?
After you’ve determined what healthcare coverage you qualify for, it’s important to know when you can sign up. For most health insurance plans, there is a specific period of time when you can enroll in, renew or change your plan. This is called an open enrollment period.
In this article:
What is open enrollment?
Open enrollment is the period when you can enroll in, renew or change your healthcare plan. This may be different across states or companies, but it is usually at the end of each year.
Learn the open enrollment period for your coverage to make sure you can get the care you need, when you need it.
- Individual plans: Open enrollment is November 1 through December 15, in most states.
- Employer-based health insurance: Enrollment periods are set by your employer. They are usually in the fall.
- Medicaid: Enrollment can happen at any time.
- Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP): Enrollment can happen at any time.
- Medicare: The enrollment period is October 15 to December 7 every year.
Certain plans may require you to sign up during open enrollment period. However, you may be able to enroll in or change your plan if you have a qualifying life event (QLE).
What is a qualifying life event (QLE)?
A QLE is a change in your situation—like moving to a new city, getting married, having a child, getting a job or losing coverage. A QLE allows you to sign up for coverage during a special enrollment period.
You can enroll in or change your healthcare plan at any time if you have a QLE, including but not limited to:
- Getting married
- Getting divorced
- Having or adopting a child
- Death of someone who shares your health plan
- Moving to a new area
- Becoming a U.S. citizen
- Getting a new job
- Losing employment
- Losing health insurance
