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CA Department of Insurance
CA Department of Insurance
CA Department of Insurance

Open Enrollment 2015

Open Enrollment for 2015 is Closed

What is Open Enrollment?

Open enrollment is the annual time when you can purchase a new health insurance policy or change your existing policy in the individual market. If you are covered through your employer, they should provide you with the information you need in order to make the best decision for you and/or your family. Note that open enrollment through your employer may take place at a different time of year.

Why can I only enroll during open enrollment?

Health Insurance only works when a mix of healthy and not-so-healthy people purchase policies. If open enrollment was year-round, people would wait until they were sick to buy insurance and the system wouldn't work.

Are there exceptions?

Open enrollment is the only time of year you may sign up for coverage in the individual market unless you have a qualifying life event (for example if you, adopt a child, lose your employer-based coverage, get married, etc...). Also, if you qualify for Medi-Cal, you can sign up any time - you don't have to wait for open enrollment. You can visit Covered California's web site to see if you qualify for Medi-Cal.

If you do qualify for an exception, please visit our Health Insurance Basics and Shopping for Individual/Family Coverage sections for more information about your coverage options and help thinking about what kind of coverage is right for you.

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