{"id":1847,"date":"2016-08-03T18:58:46","date_gmt":"2016-08-03T22:58:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=1847"},"modified":"2025-10-21T22:13:06","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T02:13:06","slug":"healthcare-defined-open-enrollment-period","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/healthcare-defined-open-enrollment-period\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the open enrollment period?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Annual checkups are key<\/span><\/a> in maintaining health and wellness, but they aren\u2019t just for your body. Reassessing your health insurance plan needs yearly\u2014especially following new diagnoses or big life events\u2014can go a long way toward optimizing your coverage. Each year, Americans get a chance to do just that during their annual Open Enrollment Period in the ACA marketplace, with Medicare, and\/or with their employer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Fast facts about open enrollment periods<\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

<\/td>\nEnrollment period<\/b><\/td>\nEffective dates<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ACA open enrollment<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nNov. 1, 2025 to Jan 15, 2026<\/span><\/td>\nChanges made by Dec. 15, 2025 take effect Jan. 1, 2026. Feb. 1, 2026 for changes made after that.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Medicare open enrollment<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nOct. 15 to Dec. 7, 2025<\/span><\/td>\nJan. 1, 2026<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Special Enrollment Period<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n60 days following a qualifying life event<\/span><\/td>\nNew coverage potentially may be effective the day you apply for the plan. However, you won\u2019t be able to use the health benefits until your eligibility is confirmed and you\u2019ve paid your premium.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

What are the various open enrollment periods?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Annual open enrollment periods are the time of year during which Americans can make changes to their elected health insurance coverage (such as the group health plan they receive through their employer) or purchase new insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace (also known as Obamacare). (People with <\/span>Medicare or Medicaid<\/span><\/a> will have different stipulations and times for enrollment.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Open enrollment also may be a good time for beneficiaries to add a spouse or dependents, or otherwise change their household composition, to their ACA plan if they haven\u2019t done so already.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even if you plan to renew your current plan, it\u2019s a good idea to check the fine print for the coming year\u2014what is and is not included (such as prescription medications and copays) changes year to year, so you\u2019ll want to make sure you have the right coverage for you and your family.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you miss the open enrollment period for the federal ACA marketplace, you may still be able to elect new coverage or make changes to your plan during a special enrollment period. However, you must have one of the following qualifying life events to participate in special enrollment:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n