When Is the Open Enrollment Deadline for Health Insurance? (For 2025 Plans)

The Open Enrollment deadline for an Affordable Care Act-qualified “Obamacare” health insurance plan varies by state.

Open Enrollment Deadline 2025

In states that opted to use the federal Marketplace website, the Open Enrollment Period runs from November 1st to January 15th. However, if you want a new policy to take effect on January 1st, you must complete your enrollment by December 15th. If you enroll after that date, your new policy will become effective on February 1st.

Other states that have opted to use their own websites also set their own Open Enrollment deadlines. Many of them simply use the same Open Enrollment deadline as the federal Marketplace. However, several states have opted to have different deadlines. These include California, District of Columbia, Idaho, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.

We’ve listed all the Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment deadline dates for each state, below.

Residents of states like California, New York, or Washington may benefit from extended enrollment periods through their state-run marketplaces, so be sure to check your state for specifics.

Note for Idaho Residents: Your last day to sign up for an Affordable Care Act-qualified plan during general open enrollment is December 15th, not January 15th. So your deadline comes much earlier than it does in the rest of the country!

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How To Get Health Insurance After the Open Enrollment Deadline

If you miss Open Enrollment, you might still qualify for coverage through a Special Enrollment Period. These are triggered by life events such as marriage, widowhood, childbirth, adoption, relocation, or loss of existing group health coverage through things like layoff.

Idaho residents, take note: Your last day to sign up for an Affordable Care Act-qualified plan during general open enrollment is December 15th, not January 15th. So your deadline comes much earlier than it does in the rest of the country!

A Special Enrollment Period allows you 60 days from the qualifying event to sign up with a new health plan. If you qualify for a subsidy, you can still get a subsidy with the new plan.

If you think you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, schedule a free consultation with a Personal Benefits Manager. We’ll help you analyze your situation and the available health plans in your area, and connect you with the best possible match.

 Health Insurance Open Enrollment Periods By State (for 2025 plans)

LEARN MORE: Missed Open Enrollment? Here’s What You Can Do

Health Sharing Plans – Low Rates, Year-Round Enrollment

Health sharing plans –– affordable non-insurance alternatives to traditional health insurance products, don’t have open enrollment periods. You can sign up for a health sharing plan at any time throughout the year.

Health sharing plans can be a tremendous value if you and your family are in good health, and don’t qualify for a large subsidy under the Affordable Care Act.

While health sharing members don’t receive Obamacare subsidies, and the monthly contributions are not tax deductible like individual health insurance premiums are, health sharing plans can still be worthwhile because they cost up to 50% less than the cost of an unsubsidized ACA-qualified health insurance product.

If you qualify for a significant subsidy, on the other hand, you are probably better off in a traditional health insurance policy.

You may also be better off in a traditional health insurance policy if you have pre-existing conditions. That’s because health sharing plans have a waiting period before costs related to treating pre-existing conditions become shareable.

However, if you’ve missed the Obamacare deadline for your state, and you need to get something in place until January 1st of next year, a health sharing plan can still provide excellent protection against everything not already a pre-existing condition, while saving hundreds of dollars a month along the way.

For free help choosing and enrolling in a health sharing plan, make an appointment with a Personal Benefits Manager.

TAKE THE QUIZ: Health Insurance or Health Sharing – Which Is Best For Me?

COBRA Continuation Coverage

If you are using COBRA to continue your employer-sponsored health coverage, you have a specific deadline of 60 days to elect or continue coverage under COBRA.

Sometimes it seems like open enrollment may be a daunting task, especially when we are busy, but don’t just stay with the status quo as you could be missing out on better options for your lifestyle and wallet.

Instead you can contact one of our Personal Benefits Managers who can not only get you the information you need but also help you make the best decision for which type of health insurance fits you and your family’s lifestyle as well as wallet. The consultation is always free.

Even if you miss the deadline for whatever reasons, our Personal Benefits Managers can still help you get covered as they know about options you may not even be aware of. So don’t let this task overwhelm you, it can be as easy as a simple call.

LEARN MORE: Is COBRA Right For You?

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What To Do Now Before Your Open Enrollment Deadline

Confused? No worries. Help is just a few clicks away: Make a free appointment with an expert HSA for America Personal Benefits Manager. They are available at no cost to you, and can provide invaluable insights tailored to your unique needs.

But don’t delay: Once open enrollment or your special enrollment period is over, that’s it! You don’t want to miss those important deadlines. Don’t let time get away from you and risk losing access to health insurance for up to 11 months. Take action now.

For Further Reading: Top 10 Things You Must Know About Open Enrollment | Should I Change Health Plans During Open Enrollment? | Health Insurance Plans: Bronze Vs. Silver