Open Enrollment for Different Types of Health Insurance
There are different Open Enrollment dates for all major types of health insurance. Enrollment on the federal exchange for an ACA plan lasts 10 weeks and begins on November 1, 2022, while Open Enrollment for the various Medicare Parts depends on which part you’re trying to obtain. Last, but not least, enrollment through an employer depends on the time of the month you enroll.
Medicare
Medicare has an initial Open Enrollment Period that begins three months before your 65th birthday, lasts for your birth month, and continues three months past your birthday for a total of seven months. This enrollment period is for Medicare plans Part A and B, but both parts have different Open Enrollment Periods. You can sign up for Part A anytime after your 65th birthday, but if you fail to sign up for either part, there’s a Special Enrollment Period between January 1 and March 31 for parts A and B.
For other parts of Medicare, there is an annual fall Open Enrollment Period to obtain or change your current Medicare plan. You can join Medicare Part D, or switch back to Original Medicare from Medicare Advantage during Open Enrollment. The fall Open Enrollment plan for Medicare starts on October 15 and runs through December 7 each year.
Affordable Care Act
The Open Enrollment Period for the Affordable Care Act begins November 1, 2022, and closes on January 15, 2023. The exact dates change every year, and some states have their own Open Enrollment Period. You can’t get health insurance through an exchange after the enrollment period ends unless you experience a qualifying life event. They include:
- Loss of existing health insurance coverage
- Change in household status
- Change in residences such as to a different ZIP code or county
- Change in income that affects the coverage you qualify for
- Release from incarceration
- Ameri-Corps member who’s beginning or finishing service
- Becoming a member of a federally recognized tribe
- Becoming a U.S. Citizen
Is there an Open Enrollment for dental insurance?
There is no Open Enrollment for other insurance products such as dental and vision. These plans – as well as accident, short-term, and other types of insurance – are available to purchase year around.
Is it possible to make changes outside of Open Enrollment?
No, you can’t make changes outside of Open Enrollment and you can’t enroll outside of a qualifying life event. If you find you need a health insurance policy outside of the Open Enrollment Period, you can get something known as a short-term health insurance policy. A short-term health insurance policy provides you with coverage for your health insurance needs and lasts up to 364 days in most cases.
Need help finding out what the best health insurance options are for you before you re-up your plan? Give us a call today.
