Open Enrollment 2023: Everything You Need to Know
The 2023 health insurance open enrollment period is from November 1 to January 15 in most states.
This is when you can sign up for a new health insurance plan or change your current plan. It's important to make your insurance selections during open enrollment because after it ends, you’ll have limitations on your ability to get insurance, change plans or access discounted rates from tax credits.
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When is open enrollment 2023?
Open enrollment for 2023 insurance plans begins Tuesday, November 1, 2022, and continues through Sunday, January 15, 2023, for individual and family insurance plans purchased through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, which is also called Obamacare. If you get your health insurance through your job, your employer determines when you can enroll in health insurance.
Even with ACA plans, some states have slightly different dates for health insurance open enrollment. There are extended open enrollment periods in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. In contrast, Idaho and Maryland are advertising that their open enrollment periods will end on December 15.
Where you live also determines whether you use HealthCare.gov to enroll in health insurance, or if you use a state marketplace.
State | Open enrollment dates | Where you shop for health insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | November 1, 2022 – January 15, 2023 | HealthCare.gov |
| Alaska | November 1, 2022 – January 15, 2023 | HealthCare.gov |
| Arizona | November 1, 2022 – January 15, 2023 | HealthCare.gov |
| Arkansas | November 1, 2022 – January 15, 2023 | HealthCare.gov |
| California | November 1, 2022 – January 31, 2023 (renewals begin October 1) | Covered California |
When you sign up determines when your health insurance plan begins.
In most cases, the deadline to enroll is December 15 if you want your health insurance plan to begin at the start of the new year. So if you participated in last year's open enrollment, signing up for a plan by December 15 means you'll avoid a lapse in coverage.
When you enroll | When your coverage begins |
|---|---|
| On or before December 15, 2022 | January 1, 2023 |
| Between December 16, 2022 and January 15, 2023 | February 1, 2023 |
Other open enrollment schedules
The open enrollment dates above are only for individual health insurance plans purchased through the ACA marketplace. Other types of health insurance have different enrollment schedules.
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Medicare: Medicare open enrollment for 2023 runs from October 15 through December 7, 2022.
- Employer health insurance: If you receive health insurance through your job, open enrollment dates are set by your employer.
Other times you can enroll in a 2023 health insurance plan
If you miss the open enrollment deadline, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) offers two additional opportunities to sign up or change your health insurance:
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If you have a qualifying life event such as moving, a change in your household size or losing health insurance coverage, you can qualify for a special enrollment period, giving you the opportunity to enroll in health insurance or change your coverage at that time.
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If you have a low income, you could be eligible to sign up for 2023 coverage during special enrollment periods each month. This option is available to those who earn 150% of the federal poverty level. That's a maximum income of $20,385 per year for individuals and $41,625 for a family of four.
What insurance plans and benefits are available?
Under the ACA, insurers in all states are required to provide essential health benefits for a range of medical treatments from routine check-ups to surgery. Also, you can not be denied coverage because of a preexisting condition.
What's covered:
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Preventive care
- Emergency services
- Prescription drugs
- Free at-home tests for COVID-19
- Maternity care
- Mental health
- Substance abuse services
- Pediatric care
The 2023 plans on the health insurance marketplace will cap out-of-pocket maximums at $9,100 for individuals or $18,200 for families. Even if you have significant health care needs, you won't pay more for medical care than your plan's listed out-of-pocket maximum.
This is an important protection that isn’t offered with policies that have more limited benefits, such as short-term health insurance or indemnity plans like Sidecar Health.
On the marketplace, plan levels (also called metal tiers) can help you choose the right coverage for your situation:
Bronze plans
- Cheapest monthly costs but generally have high deductibles, and you'll pay a higher portion of your medical expenses.
- Best for those who are young and healthy or who don’t expect to need significant medical care.
Silver plans
- Middle-of-the-road plans that balance coverage with monthly costs.
- Best for most people, including those who expect to have typical medical needs.
Gold and Platinum plans
- Most expensive plans that give you the most savings on medical expenses.
- Best for those who expect to need significant medical care.
In addition to comparing plan prices and coverage, we also recommend you choose one of the best-rated health insurance companies to help you have fewer frustrations, wider access to doctors and useful add-on benefits. We recommend Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Anthem and Kaiser Permanente as some of the best overall insurance companies.
Is there a health insurance mandate in 2023?
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Federal: No, individual health insurance is not required in most states because the previous mandate was repealed by federal government policies passed in 2017 and 2019.
- State: A state-level mandate exists in California, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont and the District of Columbia, making health insurance a requirement for those residents.
- Our recommendation: Even though there is no federal mandate, it’s worthwhile to have health insurance as a potential cost-saving measure. As many uninsured Americans know, the bill for just one trip to the emergency room can exceed the annual cost of health insurance, and the lack of preventive care can have long-term consequences.
How much does insurance cost during open enrollment?
The average cost of health insurance in 2022 is between $313 and $678 per month, depending on the level of coverage.
Rates are expected to increase for 2023 plans. However, those who have a low to moderate income will be protected from the rate increase because of the subsidy program that scales health insurance costs to be a percentage of income.
For example, a Bronze plan costs an average of $30 per month for someone who earns $30,000 and $214 per month for someone who earns $45,000.
In 2023, these discounts, also called health insurance tax credits or subsidies, are typically available for those who earn between one and four times the federal poverty level. For an individual, that's an income between $13,590 and $54,360, and for a family of four, it's $27,750 to $111,000.
Those who earn more than this may still qualify for discounted insurance through the marketplace based on the ratio of health insurance costs to income. These subsidies have been extended through 2025 by a large federal bill called the Inflation Reduction Act.
Your health insurance estimated subsidy
Per person
Income vs. federal poverty level
0%
Your cost for a Silver plan
$0/month
Your cost without the subsidy
$0/month
Free or cheap health insurance in 2023
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In 2023, most applicants can get an insurance plan for $10 or less per month because of expanded tax credits.
- Some people may qualify for free health insurance through the marketplace because of the American Rescue Plan.
- Even when it's not open enrollment, you can sign up for Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or other low-income health insurance options.
What other benefits and policies should you consider during open enrollment?
When applying for health insurance, it’s a good time to consider other types of insurance that may be useful to you.
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Dental: Some marketplace health insurance policies will include dental care for adults, and many will include dental care for children. You can also purchase a separate dental insurance policy through the marketplace or directly from an insurance company.
- Vision: Vision insurance is not available through the marketplace, but you can purchase policies directly from an insurance company. Vision discount programs are another way you can save on vision care.
- Life: Generally, experts say you should carry five to 10 times your annual salary in term life insurance. But we recommend adding up your total debts and your family's future financial needs to calculate how much life insurance you need.
- FSA or HSA savings account: Depending on the type of health insurance plan you choose, you may be able to enroll in a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA). These savings accounts let you put away pretax money that you can use for medical needs such as copayments for doctor visits, deductibles, medications and even dental and vision care.
- Employer programs like commuter benefits: Open enrollment may also be when you need to sign up for any benefits programs through your workplace such as commuter discounts, wellness programs or child care programs.
Choosing your 2023 health insurance plan
If you don't know where to start, our guide to choosing the right health insurance plan breaks down the coverage and cost considerations to help you select the best plan for your health care needs.
Frequently asked questions
When is open enrollment for health insurance in 2023?
In most states, the enrollment period for 2023 health insurance plans is from November 1, 2022, through January 15, 2023. There is also a monthly special enrollment period for those who have low incomes, making it easier to get coverage throughout the year. Those who get health insurance through their jobs should check with their employers to find out the open enrollment dates.
How do you get health insurance after open enrollment?
After open enrollment, you can enroll in insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace if you have a qualifying life event such as moving or losing insurance coverage. There are also special enrollment periods each month for those who are low income. Programs like Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are available any time during the year.
What does Obamacare open enrollment mean?
Open enrollment is the time when you can sign up for health insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace. This was established with the Affordable Care Act (also called Obamacare) as a standardized timeline to enroll in health insurance in the fall for a policy that covers the next calendar year.
What's the deadline for HealthCare.gov or Obamacare?
In most states, the deadline to sign up is December 15 if you want your coverage to begin on January 1. If you sign up between December 16 and January 15, your insurance policy begins on February 1.
Sources and methodology
Open enrollment dates and regulations are based on information from HealthCare.gov and state insurance bureaus. Plans costs and coverage is based on public use files from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).