Federal marketplace open enrollment runs November 1 to January 15 per HealthCare.gov: enroll by December 15 for coverage starting January 1, or by January 15 for coverage starting February 1.
State exchanges may extend slightly. Outside the window you need a Special Enrollment Period from a life event, moving, losing coverage, marriage, a baby, or you qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, which enroll year-round. Watch the traps: auto-renewal without checking the new premium, and missing the first payment, which blocks coverage start.
What to do
Common questions
When is open enrollment for marketplace plans?
Once a year, in the fall, with hard deadlines. HealthCare.gov lays out the federal marketplace calendar: November 1 is when open enrollment starts, the first day you can enroll in, renew, or change health plans for the coming year; December 15 is the last day to enroll or change plans for coverage to start January 1; and January 15 is when open enrollment ends, with coverage for those late-December-to-mid-January enrollees starting February 1. Some states running their own marketplaces extend deadlines a bit, so your state exchange may differ slightly. Miss the window and the door closes until next fall, with two exceptions: a Special Enrollment Period triggered by a life event like moving, losing other coverage, getting married, or having a baby, which opens a 60-day window around the event; and Medicaid or CHIP, which accept applications year-round if you qualify based on income. The mistakes to avoid: waiting until January and assuming you are covered from the 1st, because only December 15 enrolments start January 1; letting auto-renewal pick your plan without checking, since premiums and networks shift every year; and missing the first premium payment, because coverage does not start until it is paid. Put the dates in your calendar each October.