What is Open Enrollment?

Think of it as insurance season.

Open enrollment is a set amount of time per year when you are able to sign up for and make selections about your health insurance and other benefits. This can be job based benefits, government run programs and even medicare.

Benefits to review during open enrollment besides medical insurance are things like dental, vision, FSA, 401K contributions, commuter benefits and more.

On this page scroll to find the way in which you plan on getting your health benefits in 2022: Job based, Individual Market, MEdicare, government program

 

JOB BASED

For job-based benefits- which is health insurance and other benefits that you either purchase through your employer/union, or receive as a benefit that the company pays for. 

With this type of insurance open enrollment periods are set by your employer and can happen at any time of the year.

However, they usually occur between October and December so the selections chosen begin on January 1st of the next year.

How long is open enrollment for job based insurance?

Open enrollment is not required to be a certain length of time. Most employers have an open enrollment period of at least two to four weeks.

During this current open enrollment season you are choosing insurance and benefits that will cover you during January 1,2022- December 31,2022

 
 

QUICK FACTS ABOUT OPEN ENROLLMENT

with job based benefits

 

Open Enrollment is the time to review your Health Insurance options provided by your employer-even if you have the same job as last year.

  • If you have an HR or benefits department they will usually send out a notice, so keep an eye on your inbox.

  • Your employer may offer just one type of insurance plan. Check for any changes in the plan offered and how they will affect you.

  • Make sure your current doctors are still participating on the plan offered. 

  • There are also benefit choices to make:

    • Opting in or out of dental/vision plans

    • FSA or HSA contributions

    • Retirement savings like 401k contributions

    • Life insurance 

    • Commuter benefits

  • If you don’t act during the open enrollment period you will have to wait until the next year to do so, unless you have a life event that qualifies for a change.

 

These Qualifying Life Events will allow you to make changes during the year outside of the open enrollment period.

  • Loss of coverage (ex. Losing a job, turning 26 years old)

  • Change in household (having/adopting a child, marriage, divorce, death)

  • Change in residence

  • Other specific events (ex. becoming a citizen)

 

Individual Market

WHAT IS THE INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE MARKET?

Individual health insurance is coverage that you purchase on your own, on an individual or family basis, as opposed to obtaining through an employer or from a government-run program.

WHO NEEDS INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE?

Individual health insurance is for anyone who doesn’t have access to employer-sponsored or government-run health coverage. 

This includes people who are employed by a small business that doesn’t provide health benefits, people who are self-employed, and people who retire before they’re eligible for Medicare and have to get their own personal health coverage until they reach age 65.

Open enrollment in the individual market runs from November 1 to December 15 in most states.

Remember you can still sign up for individual health insurance on the marketplace outside of the open enrollment period if you have a Qualifying Life Event

 

Medicare

Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older.

You’re first eligible to sign up for Medicare 3 months before you turn 65. You may be eligible to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease). 

Generally, you only need to sign up forMedicare Part A and Part B once.  Each year, you can choose which way you get your health coverage (and add or switch drug coverage).

 

  • Medicare Part A. Medicare Part A is hospital insurance.

  • Medicare Part B. Medicare Part B is medical insurance that covers everyday care needs like doctor's appointments, therapist visits, medical equipment, and urgent care visits.

  • Medicare Part C. Medicare Part C is also called Medicare Advantage. These plans combine the coverage of parts A and B into a single plan. Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies and are overseen by Medicare. These plans set a limit on what you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket each year for covered services.

  • Medicare Part D. Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage.

  • Medigap. Medigap is also known as Medicare supplement insurance. Medigap plans help cover the out-of-pocket costs of Medicare, like deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance amounts

 

Medicare is different from private insurance — it doesn’t offer plans for couples or families. You don’t have to make the same choice as your spouse. Medicare plan options vary from state to state.

Visit www.Medicare.gov for more information

 

Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program)

Medicaid and CHIP do NOT have an open enrollment period. You can find out if you qualify and apply anytime during the year.

There are 2 ways to apply:

  • On the Health Care Marketplace Click Here to apply

  • Through your state agencies Click Here to find out how to apply.