
When Is Open Enrollment for 2022?
The 2022 Open Enrollment Period begins November 1st, 2021, and extends to January 15th, 2022; however, the timeframe is different in certain states.
There’s also a Special Enrollment Period in case you don’t find a health plan on the federal marketplace during that time or if you experience a qualifying life event after January 15th, 2022 but prior to the next Open Enrollment Period later in the year.
Nevertheless, the following states will adhere to the standard 2022 Open Enrollment Period since they don’t operate state-level health insurance marketplaces:
● Alabama
● Alaska
● Arizona
● Arkansas
● Delaware
● Florida
● Georgia
● Hawaii
● Illinois
● Indiana
● Iowa
● Kansas
● Kentucky
● Louisiana
● Maine
● Michigan
● Missouri
● Montana
● Nebraska
● New Hampshire
● New Mexico
● North Carolina
● North Dakota
● Ohio
● Oklahoma
● Oregon
● South Carolina
● South Dakota
● Tennessee
● Texas
● Utah
● Virginia
● West Virginia
● Wisconsin
● Wyoming
The states listed above are where the Open Enrollment Period spans from November 1st, 2021, to January 15th, 2022, yet in the states listed below, the sign-up period varies.
Some have shorter periods than others, so if you’re looking for information about your state, the following chart displays all of the most important dates for Open Enrollment and Special Enrollment.
Open Enrollment and Special Enrollment dates by state
State | State Open Enrollment Period 2022 | State Special Enrollment Cut-off Dates for 2021 |
California | November 1st, 2021 to January 31st, 2022 | December 31st, 2021 |
Colorado | November 1st, 2021 to January 15th, 2022 | August 15th, 2021 |
Connecticut | November 1st, 2021 to January 15th, 2022 | October 31st, 2021 |
Idaho | November 1st, 2021 to December 15th, 2021 | April 30th, 2021 |
Maryland | November 1st, 2021 to December 15th, 2021 | August 15th, 2021 |
Massachusetts | November 1st, 2021 to January 23rd, 2022 | July 23rd, 2021 |
Minnesota | December 1st, 2021 to January 15th, 2022 | July 16th, 2021 |
Nevada | November 1st, 2021 to January 15th, 2022 | August 15th, 2021 |
New Jersey | November 1st, 2021 to January 31st, 2022 | December 31st, 2021 |
New York | February 17th, 2021 to December 31st, 2021 | December 31st, 2021 |
Pennsylvania | November 1st, 2021 to January 15th, 2022 | August 15th, 2021 |
Rhode Island | November 1st, 2021 to January 31st, 2022 | August 15th, 2021 |
Vermont | November 1st, 2021 to December 15th, 2021 | October 1st, 2021 |
Washington | November 1st, 2021 to December 15th, 2022 | August 15th, 2021 |
Washington DC also has its own Open Enrollment Periods and Special Enrollment Periods. If you live in Washington DC, the Open Enrollment Period extends from November 1st, 2021, to January 31st, 2022. The Special Enrollment Period goes from November 30th, 2021, to December 31st, 2021.
What are the qualifications for the Special Enrollment Periods?
To qualify for the Special Enrollment Period anywhere in the United States, you have to experience one of the following life-changing events within the past 60 days:
- Losing your health insurance
- Moving to a different state
- Marriage
- Adoption
- Death in the family
In other words, any situation that causes a change in the composition of your household, where you choose to live, or whether or not you still have health insurance affects your eligibility for the Special Enrollment Period.
It’s possible to qualify for Special Enrollment if you experience other uncommon scenarios, so if you have any questions, feel free to contact the federal marketplace at healthcare.gov for more information.
Either way, you must enroll within a 60-day window to qualify. Generally, you have 60 days to register from the time you lose your health insurance or experience a life event, or if you know that you are going to lose your health insurance in the next 60 days (e.g., being laid off from your job).
But if you happen to miss both enrollment periods, you may be able to qualify for short-term health insurance as a stopgap until the next time you can sign up for coverage, which is why it’s better to sign-up during the designated times.
At HealthPlans.com, we make it easy to compare quotes on health insurance plans offered through the federal marketplace or coverage via your state’s health insurance exchange.