Affordable Care Act

Open Enrollment is November 1 – January 15

• November 1: Open Enrollment starts — first day you can enroll in, renew, or change health plans through the Marketplace for the coming year. Coverage can start as soon as January 1.
• December 15: Last day to enroll in or change plans for coverage to start January 1.
• January 1: Coverage starts for those who enroll in or change plans by December 15 and pay their first premium.
• January 15: Open Enrollment ends — last day to enroll in or change Marketplace health plans for the year. After this date, you can enroll in or change plans only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
• February 1: Coverage starts for those who enroll in or change plans December 16 through January 15 and pay their first premiums

Outside the yearly Open Enrollment, you can get coverage or change plans only if you:

• Have a life change or income that qualifies for a Special Enrollment Period.
• Qualify for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). You can enroll any time of year and coverage can start immediately. 

Most people qualify for savings

Depending on your expected household income for the year, you may qualify for:

• Lower costs for your Marketplace plan, like the premium tax credit that lowers your monthly plan premium, and for extra savings on out-of-pocket costs like deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. 
• Coverage through Medicaid or CHIP. Your children may qualify for CHIP, even if you don’t qualify for Medicaid.

All Marketplace plans cover:

• 10 essential health benefits, including prescription drugs, emergency services, hospitalization, laboratory services, and mental health and substance use disorder services
• Free preventive health services at no cost to you when delivered by a doctor or provider in your plan’s network
• Coverage for pre-existing conditions