Open enrollment starts Nov. 1

Nov. 4--The 2020 Open Enrollment Period runs from Friday, Nov. 1 to Sunday, Dec. 15, with plans going into effect Jan. 1, 2019. Failure to act by the Dec. 15 deadline means you will not be eligible for health insurance coverage in 2020, unless you qualify for a special enrollment period.

Open enrollment is the window of time when individuals and employees may add or drop their health insurance, or make changes to their coverage.

For employer-sponsored coverage, open enrollment is generally the only time when employees can drop their coverage, however, in the individual market, people can drop coverage at any time during the year.

In both cases, open enrollment is generally the only time people can sign up for a plan or switch to a different one, unless a special enrollment period is allowed by a qualifying life event, like a new baby, marriage, loss of existing coverage, change in income or other approved circumstance.

Medicare open enrollment began Oct. 15 and continues through Dec. 7. During the enrollment period, you may make changes to your coverage, or switch between Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or change or enroll in Medicare Part D.

Open enrollment periods do not apply to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, free or low-cost health coverage for low-income individuals, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.