Open enrollment: a step-by-step guide
Open enrollment is a 2–4 week window each year to choose your benefits. Here's how to prepare, compare plans, and avoid the most common mistakes.
Open enrollment is the annual window when you can pick or change benefits without needing a life event. Miss it and you're locked in for another year. Most employers run it in October or November for January coverage; ACA marketplace open enrollment runs November 1 to January 15 in most states.
Before enrollment opens
- Pull last year's medical, dental, and vision spending to estimate next year's needs.
- List your current doctors and check whether they're in-network for each plan you're considering.
- Note any planned procedures (surgeries, orthodontics, LASIK, pregnancy) — these change which plan saves the most.
- Look at the Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) for each plan side by side.
- Confirm dependents' eligibility (kids up to age 26, spouse/domestic partner, etc.).
Step-by-step
- Compare total expected cost, not premium
For each plan, add 12 months of premium + estimated deductible + copays/coinsurance based on expected use. The lowest premium plan rarely wins on total cost if you use a lot of care.
- Pick a medical plan
Match the plan to your situation. Healthy with low usage and a savings mindset? HDHP + HSA. Chronic conditions or planned major care? Traditional PPO. Tight network in your area? HMO.
- Decide on dental and vision
Cheap and almost always worth it if anyone in the family wears glasses or needs more than two cleanings a year.
- Set HSA or FSA contributions
Estimate medical spending you can reliably predict. With an HSA, lean toward maximum contribution since unspent funds roll over. With an FSA, contribute only what you'll spend, plus the carryover amount.
- Choose voluntary benefits
Life insurance, disability, accident, hospital indemnity, legal plans. Compare premiums to what you'd buy directly — group rates aren't always cheapest.
- Update beneficiaries
Open enrollment is the easiest time to review life insurance and 401(k) beneficiaries. Make sure they're current.
- Submit before the deadline
Most platforms require active confirmation each year. If you don't submit, you may default to last year's choices — or to no coverage at all.
FAQ
- Can I change my mind after submitting?
Usually yes, but only until the enrollment window closes. After that, changes require a qualifying life event.
- When does coverage actually start?
Most employer plans start January 1 regardless of when you enrolled during the open window. ACA marketplace coverage starts February 1 if you enroll December 16 or later.
- What if I'm hired mid-year?
New hires get a 30–60 day initial enrollment window. Coverage typically starts the first of the month after your hire date, sometimes immediately.