Health Insurance Enrollment Guide: Key Dates and Eligibility
Whether you need health insurance for yourself or your family, knowing when you can enroll is crucial. Here’s a simple breakdown of when and how you can sign up for coverage, whether through the ACA Marketplace, Medicare, Medicaid, or employer plans.
Open Enrollment Periods (OEP)
1. ACA Marketplace
Open Enrollment: November 1 – January 15 every year
Coverage Starts: January 1 (if enrolled by Dec 15); February 1 (if enrolled after Dec 15)
2. Medicare
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): Starts 3 months before and ends 3 months after your 65th birthday month
Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31
3. Employer Coverage
Check with your HR or benefits administrator. Most employers have an annual open enrollment in the fall.
4. Medicaid & CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program)
Enrollment: Open year-round for those who qualify based on income or household status
📌 Learn more: Here
Special Enrollment Periods (SEP)
You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you experience certain life events. These include:
Loss of employer-sponsored coverage (voluntary or involuntary)
COBRA coverage ending
Marriage or divorce
Birth or adoption of a child
Death of a household member
Turning 26 and aging out of a parent’s plan
Gaining or losing eligibility for Medicaid or CHIP
Change in immigration status
Change in income that affects subsidy eligibility
Moving to a new ZIP code or county
Release from incarceration
Gaining lawful presence in the U.S.
Government Declared SEPs
Public health emergencies
State-specific extensions (e.g., Get Covered Illinois declaring a SEP due to natural disasters or system outages)
Enrollment or plan errors caused by state or federal marketplaces
Technical errors preventing timely enrollment
SEPs typically last 60 days from the date of the qualifying event, but this may vary depending on the trigger.
🧭 Need Help?
Call for assistance: (708) 505-5691.
Visit here to view plans and subsidies you may qualify for.
📌 Pro Tip:
Mark your calendar and prepare early. Missing key dates can mean waiting months for coverage or paying more out of pocket.
