The fourth open enrollment season of the Affordable Care Act – for coverage in 2017 – begins on Nov. 1.
Here are four key dates to remember:
- Nov. 1, 2016: Open Enrollment starts. This is the first day people can enroll, re-enroll, or change a 2017 insurance plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace, also known as the ACA exchanges.
- Dec. 15, 2016: Last day to sign up, or change health plans, to get or keep coverage starting January 1, 2017.
- Jan. 1, 2017: First day of 2017 health plan coverage – for those who met the Dec. 15 deadline. People can still sign up for coverage – they just have a wait a few weeks for it to kick in.
- Jan. 31, 2017: Last day to enroll in or change a 2017 health plan. After that, people can only get coverage or change plans if they meet Special Enrollment Period rules, such as changing jobs and losing coverage at the new one.
