Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What are the deadlines for the ACA’s open enrollment period?
- What is the deadline to enroll in 2024 ACA-compliant health insurance coverage in the individual market?
- Does Obamacare open enrollment continue through January 15 in all states?
- Special Enrollment Periods
- Open enrollment schedule has varied over time
Introduction
In this article, we will provide answers to frequently asked questions about health insurance enrollment for the year 2023. We will cover important information regarding the deadlines and open enrollment periods for ACA-compliant health insurance coverage in the individual market. Whether you are a new applicant or looking to renew your existing coverage, this guide will help you navigate the enrollment process effectively.
What are the deadlines for the ACA’s open enrollment period?
The annual open enrollment for ACA-compliant health insurance runs from November 1 to January 15 in most states. During this period, individuals can apply for or renew their health insurance coverage for the upcoming year. However, it is important to note that there may be some exceptions and variations in certain states.
What is the deadline to enroll in 2024 ACA-compliant health insurance coverage in the individual market?
Open enrollment for 2024 health coverage begins in nearly every state on November 1, 2023. However, there are a few exceptions to this schedule. In Idaho, the open enrollment period starts on October 15. In recent years, New York has delayed the start until November 16. Additionally, California residents have been able to renew their existing coverage starting on October 1, although new enrollments and plan change opportunities don’t begin until November 1 in California.
In most states, open enrollment for 2024 coverage will end on January 15, 2024. However, it is important to check for any exceptions or variations in your specific state.
Exceptions to the January 15 deadline
In some states, the deadline for open enrollment differs from the standard January 15 cutoff. Here are a few exceptions:
- In New Jersey, Maryland, California, Rhode Island, and Nevada, coverage has historically taken effect on January 1 as long as the application is completed by December 31.
- In Massachusetts and New Mexico, the deadline for a January 1 effective date has been December 23.
It’s essential to be aware of these exceptions and check the specific deadlines in your state.
Deadline for coverage starting on January 1
In most states, December 15 is the deadline to get a plan that takes effect on January 1. Enrollments completed in the latter half of December and the first half of January will generally take effect on February 1 instead. However, there are exceptions to this rule as well.
- In New Jersey, Maryland, California, Rhode Island, and Nevada, coverage has historically taken effect on January 1 as long as the application is completed by December 31.
- In Massachusetts and New Mexico, the deadline for a January 1 effective date has been December 23.
Make sure to check the specific deadline for coverage starting on January 1 in your state.
Open enrollment extension
Open enrollment used to end on December 15 in most states. However, the Biden administration added a one-month extension that took effect for the 2022 plan year and will continue to be used from now on. December 15 is still the deadline to get a January 1 effective date. This extension applies to the 32 states that use HealthCare.gov for 2024. The other 18 states and DC are free to follow that same schedule or set their own schedule.
Does Obamacare open enrollment continue through January 15 in all states?
HHS had previously defined open enrollment as the window from November 1 to December 15. However, state-run exchanges had the option to offer special enrollment periods before or after that window, effectively extending open enrollment. For coverage effective in 2022 and future years, HHS has changed the enrollment window for HealthCare.gov to November 1 through January 15. But instead of requiring state-run exchanges to use an enrollment window at least that long, HHS has given them the option of keeping an earlier deadline, as long as it’s not before December 15. This is why Idaho is allowed to continue to have a mid-December enrollment deadline. However, all of the rest of the state-run exchanges have opted to extend their enrollment deadlines to January 15 or later.
Fully state-run exchanges are the only ones with the ability to extend open enrollment on their own. Most of them had chosen to offer enrollment windows that extended past December 15 in the years when that was the end of the enrollment window on HealthCare.gov. But now that HHS has extended the HealthCare.gov deadline to January 15, many of the state-run exchanges are using that date rather than issuing additional extensions.
Outside of ACA’s open enrollment window, enrollment is only available with a qualifying event.
Special Enrollment Periods
After open enrollment ends, people can normally only purchase coverage if they have a special enrollment period triggered by a qualifying event. Some qualifying events include:
- Marriage (since 2017, this generally only applies if at least one spouse already had coverage before the wedding, although there are some exceptions)
- Becoming a U.S. citizen
- Birth or adoption
- Involuntary loss of other health coverage
- A permanent move to an area where new health plans are available (since July 2016, this only applies in most cases if you already had coverage prior to your move)
For a complete guide to qualifying events in the individual market and their associated special enrollment periods, please refer to the resources available.
Regardless of whether you purchase insurance through the exchange or off-exchange, the annual open enrollment window applies, and special enrollment periods are necessary to enroll at any other time of the year.
Open enrollment schedule has varied over time
Over the years, the open enrollment period for health insurance has varied in different states. Here is a summary of the enrollment windows used in the federally-run marketplaces:
- 2014 coverage: October 1, 2013, through March 31, 2014
- 2015 coverage: November 15, 2014, through February 15, 2015
- 2016 coverage: November 1, 2015, through January 31, 2016
- 2017 coverage: November 1, 2016, through January 31, 2017
- 2018 coverage: November 1, 2017, through December 15, 2017
- 2019 coverage: November 1, 2018, through December 15, 2018
- 2020 coverage: November 1, 2019, through December 15, 2019
- 2021 coverage: November 1, 2020, through December 15, 2020
- 2022 coverage: November 1, 2021, through January 15, 2022
- 2023 coverage: November 1, 2022, through January 15, 2023
- 2024 coverage: November 1, 2023, through January 15, 2024
Please note that these dates are subject to change, and it is always recommended to check the specific open enrollment period for your state.
In conclusion, understanding the open enrollment period and deadlines for ACA-compliant health insurance coverage is crucial for individuals seeking to enroll or renew their health insurance plans. By staying informed and aware of the enrollment windows and any exceptions in their state, individuals can ensure they have the coverage they need for the upcoming year.