Open Enrollment 2024 Dates and Deadlines

ObamaCare Health Insurance Deadline 2024

ObamaCare’s Open Enrollment period for 2024 health plans started November 1, 2023, and ends January 15, 2024, in most states. Plans sold during Open Enrollment start as early as January 1, 2024.

Open enrollment is the only time of year you can enroll in a health plan, switch plans, or re-enroll in your current plan in the individual and family market. If you miss open enrollment, your only options are limited to special enrollment, short-term health insurance, employer-based coverage, Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP.

Get covered at Healthcare.Gov or through a marketplace-approved broker like the ones featured on our site.

NOTE: Open enrollment starts November 1 and ends January 15 each year unless otherwise noted (a permanent extension was finalized in 2021).

Key Dates For ObamaCare Open Enrollment 2024 (the Open Enrollment Season For Plans Held in 2024)

• Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Open Enrollment begins.
• Monday, January 15, 2024: Open Enrollment ends (extensions may be granted).
• Monday, January 1, 2024: The earliest a plan purchased during open enrollment can start.

NOTE: Enrollment dates are subject to change each year. The federal government and/or some or all states may extend enrollment. We will post extensions below if and when any are announced.

ObamaCare Open Enrollment Extension 2024: Open enrollment in the federal marketplace HealthCare.Gov may be extended each year. Likewise, state deadlines may or may not be extended. Please see the state-based deadlines below for your state deadline or check with your state’s official health insurance marketplace website.

TIP: Only plans sold on the health insurance marketplace qualify for cost assistance.

TIP: If you purchase a plan after Dec 15th, for example, in a state that offers extensions, your plan may not start by Jan 1st (check your state’s rules noted below). Please make sure to check your start date. Your plan doesn’t start until you make your first payment!

State-Specific Deadlines and Extensions for the 2024 Open Enrollment Season

States with state-based exchanges may issue extensions each year, some states have permanent extensions, and the federal government may issue extensions each year. Which extensions are offered is subject to change.

Below are the state-based deadlines for 2024 for marketplace coverage under the ACA and some notes on federal deadline extensions.

Please double-check the official state-based websites and the federal marketplace HealthCare.Gov to confirm extensions each year, as some extensions are subject to change.

NOTE: The state-based deadlines below may be incomplete or subject to change. The 2024 deadlines below are permanent or have been confirmed on state health insurance websites except when noted.

• California: November 1st, 2023, through January 31st, 2024.
• Colorado: November 1st, 2023, through January 15th, 2024.
• Connecticut: November 1st, 2023, through January 15th, 2024.
• District of Columbia: November 1st, 2023, through January 31st, 2024 (uninsured can enroll anytime due to COVID public health emergency).
• Idaho: October 15th, 2023, through December 15th, 2023.
• Kentucky: November 1st, 2023, 1st through January 15th, 2024.
• Maine: November 1st, 2023, through January 15th, 2024.
• Maryland: November 1st, 2023, through December 15th, 2023 (has historically issued extensions).
• Massachusetts: November 1st, 2023, through January 23rd, 2024.
• Minnesota: November 1st, 2023, through January 15th, 2024.
• Nevada: November 1st, 2023, through January 15th, 2024.
• New Jersey: November 1st, 2023, through January 31st, 2024.
• New Mexico: November 1st, 2023, through January 15th, 2024.
• New York: November 16th, 2023,  through January 31st, 2024.
• Pennsylvania: November 1st, 2023, through January 15th, 2024.
• Rhode Island: November 1st, 2023, through January 31st, 2024.
• Vermont: November 1st, 2023, through January 15th, 2024.
• Washington: November 1st, 2023, through January 15th, 2024.

When Will Coverage Start With Extended Enrollment? Generally, if you enroll before December 15th, your coverage starts January 1st. If you enroll after December 15th, your coverage will start February 1st, and if you enroll after February 15th, your coverage will generally start March 1st. With that said, some states that extend enrollment will have different rules and changes each year. For example, changes under COVID can cause exceptions to this as well. Please check the federal or state websites for details on when your coverage will start.

Where Can I find my state’s ObamaCare website? All state websites can be found on HealthCare.Gov’s home page. When you get to the site, you’ll get to pick your state. You’ll be taken to it if your state has its own exchange.

Other states may be subject to an extension in 2024. States with state-run exchanges can issue last-minute extensions, and the federal government can also issue an extension for all states using the federal marketplace.

Key Facts About Open Enrollment 2024

• If you want to keep it simple, you can sign up at the official health insurance marketplace HealthCare.Gov and find out if you qualify for cost assistance now (those who live in states that use state-based exchanges will be redirected to the proper site).
• Open enrollment is the only time you can shop for health plans in the individual and family market without qualifying for special enrollment.
• To qualify for special enrollment, you must have a Qualify Life Event (QLE), such as losing employer-based coverage.
• You must do it during open enrollment if you want to enroll, re-enroll, or change plans for 2024.
• Comprehensive health coverage that offers the benefits and protections of the Affordable Care Act can only be sold during open enrollment or special enrollment.
• Only plans sold on the health insurance marketplace qualify for cost assistance (NOTE: a private broker can help you choose a marketplace plan).
• If you miss open enrollment, your only options are Short Term Health Insurance, employer-based coverage, Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. Any or all of those may not be an option for some, as all generally have additional requirements for eligibility.
• If you don’t enroll in a plan during open enrollment, you won’t owe the fee due to the fee for not getting coverage being reduced to $0 at a federal level since 2019 (some states have state-based mandates). However, you will likely miss your opportunity to get guaranteed issue comprehensive coverage in the individual and family market if you don’t shop during open enrollment, as only plans sold during open enrollment are required to meet the standards and offer the benefits, rights, and protections of the ACA.
• Medicare has a unique open enrollment period, as do other types of health insurance sold outside the private individual and family market. If you qualify for Medicare, you don’t have to worry about ObamaCare for yourself (although you are still responsible for ensuring your tax family gets covered if you are the head of household). Learn more about ObamaCare and Medicare.

You can learn all about open enrollment here. Learn more about what to do if you miss the deadline here. See our main ObamaCareFacts page for more details.

NOTE: Enrollment dates are subject to change each year. The federal government and/or some or all states may extend enrollment. We will post extensions below if and when any are announced.

Additional Advice About Open Enrollment 2024

Below are a few additional points to consider.

• If you qualify for Medicare, you’ll want to shop for Medicare plans instead. Medicare is not offered on the marketplace!
• In the past, open enrollment in the federal marketplace HealthCare.Gov has been extended. Despite this, one should never count on extensions. We advise shopping early to avoid missing the official deadline. If things change, we’ll make sure to keep you updated.
• If you qualify for cost assistance, think carefully about how much you take upfront in Advanced Premium Tax Credits. Cost assistance is based on household income and family size as compared to the Federal Poverty Level. If you project your income inaccurately, you may end up owing back tax credits on form 8962 at tax time. This is especially true if you or a tax filer in your household gains or loses income. Medicaid and out-of-pocket assistance don’t require repayment.
• We advise those looking for coverage to shop on their state’s official marketplace or HealthCare.gov (in states that use the federal marketplace). This will ensure shoppers know all their options regarding cost assistance and get a major medical plan that counts as minimum essential coverage. Shoppers can also contact an online or in-person broker (like the ones featured on our site) for help selecting a marketplace health plan or off-marketplace plan. In some cases, shoppers can also go directly to an insurer, although this may require going directly to an insurer’s office, as insurers are encouraging shoppers to use the exchange. Learn more about shopping for private health plans outside the marketplace.
• See also maximums and deductibles and HSA info for plans. An HSA is an excellent way to save tax dollars for those who have enough money to fund them.

BOTTOM LINE: Start your journey at HealthCare.gov. Make sure you are signed up and enrolled in a plan by January 15th, 2024, or your state’s deadline. We suggest paying careful attention to cost-sharing and networks when shopping for a plan. When in doubt, a Silver Plan that qualifies for an HSA is typically a safe bet since you will have a plan that qualifies for both premium tax credits AND out-of-pocket cost assistance if your income changes during the year. Get more tips for shopping for getting the best health plan.