Understanding ObamaCare 2017 Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment 2017 for Obamacare starts November 1^st, just two weeks away. The open enrollment period for Obamacare ends January 31^st, 2017. That leaves you with a few weeks to start researching health insurance costs, compare health insurance plans, and understand your options.

Open enrollment is the only time you will be able to enroll in a health plan on the individual health care marketplace. In order to get cost assistance or avoid the fee for 2017, you’ll need to get a plan between November and January 1st, 2017. Once you get a health insurance plan, you’ll need to maintain the plan until open enrollment the following year.

If you miss the open enrollment period for health insurance your only options are short term health insurance, employer based coverage, Medicaid and CHIP. This doesn’t apply to people who experience life events like having children, getting a new job, or getting married.

Medicare has a unique open enrollment period separate from health care open enrollment. Read more about Medicare open enrollment here.