Open Enrollment

It might be hard to believe that the year is coming to a close, but that means Open Enrollment is back again and it’s time to start shopping for insurance while you can. 

Let’s take a look at Open Enrollment 2024!

What is Open Enrollment?

At the end of every year, a period known as Open Enrollment begins. This year, it will run from November 1, 2023 to January 15, 2024. But if you want to be sure that you’ll have health insurance coverage on January 1, you’ll need to be enrolled in a plan by December 15. 

If you live in a state that has its own health insurance exchange, it’s important to confirm when Open Enrollment will take place, as the dates might be different. For example, you might live in a state where the deadline to sign up is in December or you might have until the end of January. 

Planning ahead for Open Enrollment can help ensure you won’t be caught by surprise by any deadlines—the last thing you’d want is for this period to pass you by before you have a chance to get insurance or switch to a plan that suits your needs better.

What can you do during Open Enrollment?

Whether you’re working off the federal exchange or a state exchange, Open Enrollment is a time when you can focus on making sure your health insurance needs and preferences are met. 

During the year, if you’re uninsured and don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you may need to wait until Open Enrollment to search for a plan that works for you. So, rather than risking going without health insurance this coming year, it’s a good idea to enroll in a plan while you can.

On the other hand, if you’re currently insured, this period is your chance to look for another plan and make a switch if you haven’t been satisfied with your existing plan. Or, you can simply use this time to renew your plan if you’re happy with it. 

What if you receive financial help through a subsidy? Open Enrollment is the period during which you’ll need to update and confirm your personal and financial information. Doing so will determine if you still qualify for the same amount, if you can get more or less, or if you no longer qualify for the assistance.

What if you’re already covered?

Because plans may be added and removed each year, you might want to shop around to see what’s available from the insurers in your state. Who knows, you might find something that’s better than what you currently have!

If you’re insured and you like your existing plan, confirm that the same policy will be available next year. Also, details about coverage and out-of-pocket costs might change from one year to the next, so see if the plan will still suit your needs and budget. If everything looks good, you might be able to just let it renew automatically.

Open Enrollment for dental and vision insurance

In addition to shopping for medical insurance, you can look for dental plans on the Marketplace during Open Enrollment. You might come across medical insurance plans that provide some dental coverage for both children and adults, rather than just for kids. Or, you might be able to find stand-alone dental plans, but you might have to purchase a health plan at the same time. 

What about vision insurance? Like dental coverage, health plans on the Marketplace might include vision benefits for children, but it might be harder to find plans that also provide those benefits for adults. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to find stand-alone vision plans on Healthcare.gov.

With dental and vision, you don’t have to limit yourself to Open Enrollment!

If you’re finding it hard to get the right dental or vision plan, and you don’t want to feel rushed by the Open Enrollment period, don’t worry. You can enroll in, change, or cancel dental and vision insurance all year long.  

Let’s say you want to look into dental or vision insurance that will cover your whole family. Well, you can do that by using online comparison tools that give you details about multiple providers at once, or you can go directly to a provider’s website. Here at Spirit, we offer a variety of plans to suit everyone’s needs and budget, and you can enroll whenever you’re ready.  

Shopping for insurance doesn’t have to be complicated

Once you know how Open Enrollment works, and once you realize that you have more flexibility when it comes to buying dental and vision insurance, the stress of signing up for the ideal plans may decrease. Start browsing the options available in your area so you can make the right choice for the coming year.