Summary Definition: An annual period during which employees can make updates to their health insurance and benefits enrollments that’d otherwise be restricted.
Open enrollment is a specific window of time, typically every autumn, during which employees can freely enroll in or update their health insurance plans and other benefits programs. While there's no legally required length to an open enrollment period, most organizations give employees two to four weeks to enter their changes.
Having an annual open enrollment window allows employees to review and select employer-offered benefits to meet their healthcare needs. This can include enrolling in new plans, making changes to a plan, or adjusting a plan’s coverage, such as when adding a dependent.
These kinds of updates are normally restricted throughout the rest of the year, except for when a qualifying life event (QLE) occurs, such as marriage, childbirth, or loss of insurance from a spouse.
Open Enrollment for Government Programs
Insurance plans offered by the federal government have official start and end dates for their open enrollment periods:
- Affordable Care Act (ACA) Open Enrollment: November 1 – January 15
- Medicare Open Enrollment: October 15 – December 7
- Medicaid Open Enrollment: Anytime
