Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Deadline 2025

ObamaCare’s Open Enrollment period for 2025 health plans starts November 1, 2024, and ends January 15, 2025, in most states. Plans sold during Open Enrollment start as early as January 1, 2025.

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.

Key Dates Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment 2024 (the Open Enrollment Season For Plans Held in 2025)

• Friday, November 1, 2024. Open Enrollment begins.
• Wednesday, January 15, 2025: Open Enrollment ends (extensions may be granted).
• Wednesday, January 1, 2025: 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 2025: Open enrollment in the federal marketplace moserinsurancegroup.com 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!

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.

Other states may be subject to an extension in 2025. 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 2025

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 2025.

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).

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 2025

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!

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 moserinsurancegroup.com (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 moserinsurancegroup.com. Make sure you are signed up and enrolled in a plan by January 15th, 2025, 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.