State Guide to Health Insurance Open Enrollment in 2024

With the final quarter of 2023 approaching, it is crucial for employers and employees to proactively prepare for the imminent 2024 OEP. Lift HCM has been helping businesses handle the finances involved in providing healthcare to their employees for generations. That's why we want to arm you with the knowledge you need to prepare for the open enrollment period in each state.

Most Common Open Enrollment Period

In most states, the window for open enrollment begins November 1, 2023 and closes on January 15, 2024. Note that the deadline to enroll in coverage starting on January 1st us December 15, 2023.

State-Based Exchanges

While the November 1, 2023 through January 15, 2024 timeframe is pertains to the federal Open Enrollment Period, not all states participate in the federal exchange and instead opt an independently-operated healthcare exchange. Aren't they special.

Some states have their own separate healthcare exchange systems, but still subscribe to the federal schedule. These states include:

• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Kentucky
• Maine
• Minnesota
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• Pennsylvania
• Vermont
• Washington

Alternative Enrollment Periods

Now we meet the oddballs. These are the states with open enrollment periods diverging from the norm. They all have state-based exchanges (in the same way kids at a Montessori daycare have waspy parents).

• Maryland: (Nov. 1, 2023 to Dec. 15, 2024): Maryland leaves the party early, closing their enrollment 15 days before most other states. Maryland is in bed with a glass of Merlot and reruns of Gilmore Girls by 9 PM, sharp, no exceptions.

• Rhode Island (Nov. 1, 2023 to Dec. 31, 2024): The Isle of Rhode shortened their enrollment period from its previous opening date on October 15. They also have one of the earlier closing date on December 31.

• Massachusetts (Nov. 1, 2023 to Jan. 23, 2024): In a move that screams "I'll be contrarian just to look like I have an opinion!", Massachusetts closes their enrollment period on a random Tuesday one week after most states.

• Idaho (Oct. 15th, 2023 to Dec. 15, 2024): Idaho has shortened their enrollment period by a full month. May the odds be ever in your favor.

• New York (Nov. 16, 2023 to Jan. 31, 2024): Like a schoolhouse procrastinator, New York starts and ends their enrollment period 15 days later than the norm. Because we get there when we get there.

These three states have elected to keep their enrollment periods open through the end of January. Rumor has it, they refer to themselves other as "the Squad".

• New Jersey: Nov. 1, 2023 to Jan. 31, 2024
• California: Nov. 1, 2023 to Jan. 31, 2024
• Washington, D.C.: Nov. 1, 2023 to Jan. 31, 2024

Open Enrollment Ended When?!?

Employees who miss the Open Enrollment deadline can apply for coverage during a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) lasting 60 days. SEP eligibility is determined by a number of "qualifying life events" (QLEs).

Qualifying Life Event

A QLE generally refers to an experience that shakes up the normal circumstances of your daily life. This can include:

• A change of home address,
• A change of income,
• Earning citizenship,
• Release from incarceration.
• Entering or exiting service with AmeriCorps.
• An offer by an employe to help cover the cost of coverage,
• Losing health insurance through family, school, or work (hopefully not the same employer we just mentioned).
• A change in household size, meaning an adoption, birth, marriage, divorce, or death (but not in that order!).
• Joining a federally-recognized tribe or obtaining status as an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation shareholder.

The Department of Health and Human Services offers a handy screener to find out if you're eligible for an SEP.

Get Prepared for Open Enrollment for 2024 Health Insurance Plans

We hope this serves as a useful resource when preparing your workforce for open enrollment. Lift HCM is hard at work helping businesses prepare for open enrollment. But it takes more than keeping employees healthy to keep your employees. Make sure you consider factors such as learning and development and pay structure in mind when developing strategies for employee retention.