The health insurance Open Enrollment Period for 2022 is typically only six weeks long, making Americans choose health insurance coverage faster. However, there may be some flexibility with the upcoming enrollment period This year, ten states and Washington, D.C. set new deadlines that extended beyond the federal government’s 2022 timeline.
Whether looking for personal health insurance or small group health insurance, you may have more time to find the right coverage. But don’t delay. Now is the time to find a health insurance broker toto help you get health insurance for you, your family, or your organization.
What is Open Enrollment?
Were you healthy when you first bought health insurance? You pay your health insurer a little bit every month, and they give back a lot when you need care. If everyone waited until they were sick to buy insurance, there would be no money for insurers to give back.
To solve this enrollment problem, the Affordable Care Act created the national Open Enrollment Period. During this annual health insurance open enrollment, everyone is supposed to buy or re-enroll in health insurance all at once. Outside of this Open Enrollment Period, buying healthcare becomes difficult.
When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance?
The national Open Enrollment Period is six weeks long, lasting from November 1, 2021, to January 15, 2022. By comparison, every other Open Enrollment Period up to 2017 has lasted two to four times longer than the most recent open periods. However, some states are challenging the federal mandate.
Which States Have Extended Open Enrollment for 2022?
So far, 11 states and Washington, D.C. have extended 2022 open enrollment for health insurance beyond the federal deadline. Instead of ending health insurance open enrollment on January 15, 2021, every health insurer in these states must participate in open enrollment for the 2022 plan year through the following deadlines:
State |
Enrollment Period |
|
California |
November 1 – January 31 |
|
Colorado |
November 1– January 15 |
|
Connecticut |
November 1 – January 15 |
|
Massachusetts |
November 1 – January 23 |
|
Minnesota |
November 1 – December 22 |
|
Nevada |
November 1 – January 15 |
|
New Jersey |
November 1 – January 31 |
|
New York |
November 1 – January 31 |
|
Pennsylvania |
November 1 – January 15 |
|
Rhode Island |
November 1 – January 23 |
|
Washington: |
November 1 – January 15 |
|
Washington, D.C |
November 1 – January 31 |
COVID Special Enrollment Period
The American Rescue Plan reopened the federal and state Health Insurance Marketplaces for enrollment. The Special Enrollment Period lasted from February 15, 2021, through August 15, 2021. You did not need to qualify for a specific life event in order to enroll in or change an existing plan. Residents in the following states can still buy policies until the following dates:
- California: December 31, 2021
- Connecticut: October 31, 2021
- Washington, D.C.: through the end of the public health emergency
- New Jersey: November 30, 2021
- New York: December 31, 2021
- Vermont: October 1, 2021
Contact Insurance Enterprise for Premier Health Insurance
If you have questions about group or individual health insurance and need health insurance quotes, contact Insurance Enterprise at 888-350-6605. Speak to a licensed agent and find out more about how you can get an affordable health insurance plan.