It’s coming, folks: Open enrollment is right around the corner, and that’s great news. Open enrollment is our favorite time of year for three reasons.
1. It’s the easiest time to enroll in a health plan, hands down.
2. It’s an opportunity to switch plans if your old coverage doesn’t match your needs.
3. The open enrollment period starts and ends at about the same time every year, so you have plenty of time to read up and weigh your options.
To make matters easier, we’ll break down the details. It’s not as complicated as it seems, trust us.
When is open enrollment this year? We’re glad you asked
According to HealthCare.gov, the open enrollment period begins on November 1st, 2023. The deadline for enrollment is January 15th, 2024 in most states. Those who enroll by December 15 will receive coverage starting on January 1st, while those who enroll between December 16 and January 15th will start coverage on February 1st.
State-based deadlines vary slightly, however. Some states offer earlier open enrollment, while others extend the window for benefits enrollment through January 31st. Find your official state-based healthcare website here, or review a summary of the current state-specific deadlines on the ObamaCare open enrollment guide. Extensions may change, so check your state’s official website or HealthCare.gov for the latest information. Of course, it’s easier to plan ahead, so save yourself the headache and explore your healthcare options early.
Who’s eligible for open enrollment?
The annual open enrollment period is the best time for everyone to enroll in health coverage unless you already receive coverage through your employer or through Medicare. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), parents can also sign up their children for coverage until the age of 26, with no lifetime cap or annual cap on how much insurance will pay. You can’t be denied coverage if you or your child has a preexisting condition either. In other words, if you’re a law-abiding U.S. citizen who lives in the country and isn’t covered by Medicare, you should be eligible for health insurance enrollment during this year’s open enrollment period.
What happens if you miss the deadline for enrollment?
After the enrollment deadline on January 15th, your healthcare options become considerably more limited. It may be possible to get coverage if you experience a qualifying life event, like losing coverage through your job, getting a divorce, or having a child. If none of those circumstances apply, you may very well be stuck with your current plan, or have to go without insurance until the next open enrollment period. There are temporary options worth considering to span the gap, but it’s much easier to avoid the issue and enroll on time. Fortunately, the window for open enrollment is about 10 weeks long, leaving plenty of time to pick a great plan.
How are you supposed to pick a health plan when there are so many to choose from?
If it seems overwhelming, we feel you. We thought the same thing, so we decided to make the entire process a whole lot easier. Instead of having to browse endless options on a confusing health insurance marketplace website, you can get a customized list of plans tailored to meet your exact needs and priorities. Just answer a few questions, get tailored recommendations with side-by-side-comparisons, submit your application, and get approved online. Quotes are instant, and the entire process takes less than 10 minutes.
That said, you’re welcome to take all the time you need. Your quotes will be saved in the HealthBird app for you to review at your convenience. If you’re in the market for dental or vision coverage, you can shop for that too.
Bottom line: Why procrastinate when picking a plan is so easy?
We get it. The process of health plan selection can be overwhelming, but it’s not as complicated as it sounds. We’ve done our best to make it as intuitive as possible, and we’re always available to chat if you need help.
Open enrollment is the best time for changing health plans or exploring the latest available healthcare options, so mark your calendar: November 1, 2023: Get covered, and stay healthy. And don’t forget to buy some healthy snacks to celebrate once you’re all squared away!
