Open Enrollment is the period when you can enroll in a new health insurance plan, make changes to your plan, or renew your current plan for the new year. You can get coverage outside of the Open Enrollment period if you experience a qualifying life event, like getting married, moving, having a child, or losing coverage.
When is Open Enrollment?
The Biden Administration extended the Open Enrollment period by an additional 30 days, so Open Enrollment this year is from November 1, 2021 to January 15, 2022.
To get coverage for January 1, 2022, you must still enroll by December 15, 2021.
Some states have slightly different dates. See below:
California: November 1-January 31
Idaho: November 1-December 15
Maryland: November 1-December 15
Massachusetts: November 1-January 23
New Jersey: November 1-January 31
New York: November 1-December 31
Vermont: November 1-December 15
Washington: November 1-December 15
Washington DC: November 1-January 31
After January 15, 2022, you must have a Qualifying Life Event in order to enroll in a new plan for 2022. Catch asks questions during your application to determine if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. For more information, see our help article about SEP.
Generally, Open Enrollment for most states* runs from November 1 to December 15. Plans sold during Open Enrollment start January 1.
If you qualify for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), you can apply any time.