Shopping for health insurance on the marketplace can be confusing due to the many plans and choices available. It’s important to note that there are specific times of the year when you can purchase new insurance or change your plan. The ACA Healthcare Open Enrollment period starts on November 1st and ends on January 15th. It’s crucial to keep these dates in mind, as they can affect your ability to get coverage for the upcoming year.
Here are some dates to keep in mind if you’re interested in purchasing or updating your health insurance plan for the upcoming year:
- November 1st — Open Enrollment begins on this day! This is the first day where you can enroll in, renew, or change your healthcare plan on the marketplace. Your coverage can begin as early as January 1st if you start on this day.
- December 15th — If you want your new health insurance to start by January 1st, this is the last day you can enroll or change your plan.
- January 1st — This is the day your coverage will begin if you enrolled in or changed your healthcare plan by December 15th and paid your first premium.
- January 15th — Open enrollment ends on this day, meaning it’s the last day you can enroll in or change your healthcare plan for the year. After this day, you can only enroll in or change plans if you qualify for a special enrollment period.
- February 1st — If you enrolled in a plan between December 16th and January 15th, your coverage will begin this day.
During healthcare open enrollment, the multitude of plans, deductibles, and co-insurances can be confusing. Call us at Alpine Advantage Health Insurance to simplify the process. If you need to purchase a health insurance plan or make changes to your current plan during open enrollment, reach out to us today for assistance.