Open Enrollment Just Started for 2024 — Here's What to Know
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November marks the beginning of open enrollment for over 40 million Americans who have individual health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, aka “Obamacare,” and newcomers who want to sign up for benefits.
The 2023 ACA open enrollment season was a record-setter, with roughly 16.3 million people selecting marketplace plans, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. This time around, policy experts expect even higher enrollment numbers due to a mass Medicaid disenrollment that purged a substantial number of adults and children from its rolls.
While some will still be eligible for Medicaid, there will also likely be an onslaught of new ACA marketplace enrollees who no longer qualify for the program.
“This is probably going to be one of the busiest seasons yet, if not the busiest,” Cynthia Cox, a vice president at KFF, an independent nonprofit for health policy research, tells Money.
Whether you’re signing up for the first time or think you want to keep your current plan, it’s best to take a good look at your options. There are a few important changes to the health insurance marketplace this open enrollment season you’ll want to keep in mind.
When is open enrollment for 2024 health insurance?
ACA open enrollment began Wednesday and ends Jan. 16, 2024, in most states — but if you want coverage by New Year's Day, you need to choose benefits by 5 a.m. EST on Dec. 16. Coverage for anyone who enrolls after that, but before the deadline on Jan. 16 (technically 5 a.m. EST on Jan. 17), kicks in on Feb. 1.
