Employee Benefits
Benefits open enrollment or annual enrollment is a window of time each year when you can review your current benefits selections and update them as needed. Typically, open enrollment periods occur once a year, although the exact dates depend on where your coverage comes from — your employer or the insurance marketplace.
If you miss your open enrollment window, a couple of things may happen:
First and foremost, confirm your benefits enrollment dates. As mentioned above, dates differ depending on where you get coverage from. If you receive benefits from your employer, confirm the window with them. Some companies have open enrollment periods outside the standard enrollment windows. But often, open enrollment takes place once a year.
Remember, if you enroll in health insurance through the healthcare marketplace, you have from November 1, 2024 until January 15. 2025 to enroll. If you enroll by December 15, 2024, your coverage starts January 1, 2025. If you enroll December 16, 2024 through January 15, 2025, your coverage starts February 1, 2025.1
If you receive benefits through your employer and missed open enrollment at work, ask your benefits team about other available options. They’ll be able to go over the terms and qualifications associated with a special enrollment period (more about that below).
Before the new insurance starts on your benefits effective date, reach out to your employer to see if you can still make adjustments to your benefits. Employers may have some flexibility in accommodating changes before coverage officially begins for the new year.
If you’ve experienced a qualifying life event (QLE) — such as getting married or turning 26 (and losing coverage through your parent’s plan), or if you are starting a new job — you may be eligible for a special window during which you can enroll for benefits.
This applies to plans through both your employer and the healthcare marketplace. You can typically apply for special enrollment within 30 or 60 days of your QLE, depending on where you receive your coverage.
Many workplaces offer voluntary benefits, often referred to as supplemental insurance, in addition to medical insurance. If you miss your open enrollment period and are unable to enroll in a spouse’s plan, you could enroll in individual supplemental insurance plans directly through an insurance provider instead of your employer. But you may lose out on the discounted rates often associated with enrolling through your employer.
For medical coverage, you can explore other options like short-term health insurance from a private insurance provider, Medicaid, or CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program). While they don’t have limited enrollment windows, there are certain qualifications you’ll need to meet. Note that not all states participate in short-term coverage.
Here are simple ways to make sure you don’t miss open enrollment:
