Open Enrollment Deadlines To Know

Open enrollment has been open for a little over a month, meaning right now is the perfect time to enroll in a health insurance policy for 2016. The last day to sign up for a plan is January 31, 2016, but that is not the only deadline that you need to know. Keep this simple guide in mind to help you keep track of the most important open enrollment deadlines.

• November 1st – when open enrollment started and the first day that you were able to sign up for health insurance coverage for 2016.
• December 15th – the last day that you can change your health insurance plan or enroll in a new policy in order for your coverage to start on January 1, 2016.
• January 1st – the first day that your health insurance coverage can start if you enrolled in a plan on or before December 15th.
• January 15th – the last day to change your plan or enroll in a new health insurance policy in order for your coverage to start on February 1st.
• January 31st – the last day of the 2016 open enrollment. Any changes that you make to your health insurance between January 16th and January 31st will start on March 1st.

 If you don’t enroll in a health insurance plan by January 31, 2016, you will have to wait until the next open enrollment period to enroll in coverage. The only way that you can sign up for a health plan outside of open enrollment is if you qualify for a special enrollment period with a qualifying life event.
For more information on the open enrollment deadlines and for all of your health insurance needs, contact Sackett & Associates Insurance Services in Sonoma County, California.  ​