The federal government has declared a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) that re-opens the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace from February 15 to August 15, 2021.1
The 2021 Open Enrollment Period (OEP) began November 1, 2020, and ended December 15, 2020, in most states.
The chart below shows the SEP dates for the states that use the federal ACA exchange.2 Coverage begins the first day of the month after you sign up. For example, if you signed up February 15, your coverage would have been effective March 1.1
| States | Federal Special Enrollment Period for 20212 |
| Alabama | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Alaska | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Arizona | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Arkansas | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Delaware | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Florida | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Georgia | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Hawaii | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Illinois | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Indiana | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Iowa | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Kansas | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Kentucky | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Louisiana | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Maine | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Michigan | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Mississippi | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Missouri | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Montana | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Nebraska | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| New Hampshire | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| New Mexico | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| North Carolina | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| North Dakota | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Ohio | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Oklahoma | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Oregon | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| South Carolina | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| South Dakota | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Tennessee | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Texas | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Utah | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Virginia | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| West Virginia | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Wisconsin | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
| Wyoming | February 15, 2021 – August 15, 2021 |
Some states with their own ACA exchanges have extended Open Enrollment 2021 periods. The chart below shows the deadlines and coverage effective dates for select states with extended enrollment periods and SEPs.
| State | May 1, 2021 Effective Date |
June 1, 2021 Effective Date |
July 1, 2021 Effective Date |
August 1, 2021 Effective Date |
September 1, 2021 Effective Date |
October 1, 2021 Effective Date |
November 1, 2021 Effective Date |
December 1, 2021 Effective Date |
|
| California3,4 | April 30, 2021 | May 15, 20215 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Colorado6 | April 30, 2021 | May 31, 2021 | June 30, 2021 | July 31, 2021 | August 15, 2021 | — | — | — | |
| Connecticut7 | April 15, 2021 | May 15, 2021 | June 15, 2021 | July 15, 2021 | August 15, 2021 | — | — | — | |
| Idaho8 | April 30, 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Maryland9 | May 15, 2021 | June 15, 2021 | July 15, 2021 | August 15, 2021 | — | — | — | — | |
| Massachusetts10 | April 23, 2021 | May 23, 2021 | June 32, 2021 | July 23, 2021 | — | — | — | — | |
| Minnesota11 | April 30, 2021 | May 31, 2021 | June 30, 2021 | July 16, 2021 | — | — | — | — | |
| Nevada12 | April 30, 2021 | May 31, 2021 | June 30, 2021 | July 31, 2021 | August 15, 2021 | — | — | — | |
| New Jersey13 | April 30, 2021 | May 31, 2021 | June 30, 2021 | July 31, 2021 | August 31, 2021 | September 30, 2021 | October 31, 2021 | November 30, 2021 | |
| New York14 | April 15, 2021 | May 15, 2021 | June 15, 2021 | July 15, 2021 | August 15, 2021 | September 15, 2021 | October 15, 2021 | November 15, 2021 | |
| Pennsylvania15,16 | April 30, 2021 | May 31, 2021 | June 30, 2021 | July 31, 2021 | August 15, 2021 | — | — | — | |
| Rhode Island17 | April 23, 2021 | May 23, 2021 | June 23, 2021 | July 23, 2021 | August 15, 2021 | — | — | — | |
| Vermont18 | April 30, 2021 | May 14, 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Washington DC19 | April 20, 2021/May31, 2021* | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Washington20,21 | April 15, 2021 | May 15, 2021 | June 15, 2021 | July 15, 2021 | August 15, 2021 | — | — | — | |
| *In Washington, DC, residents can have coverage effective immediately. For example, if residents sign up by March 31, they can choose for their coverage to begin on either March 1 or April 1.19 | |||||||||
I Missed My State’s Open Enrollment Deadline. Can I Still Get Healthcare Coverage?
If you missed the enrollment deadline in your state, it is still possible that you can qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) that will allow you to apply for health insurance. You can qualify for an SEP if you have experienced a qualifying life event.22 Qualifying life events can include:23
- The loss of health insurance through a job.
- Household changes such as marriage, divorce, a death in the family, or having a baby.
- A change in your home address.
See a list of qualifying life events. You have 60 days to enroll in a plan, if you qualify for an SEP. But, if you miss that 60-day window, you will have to wait until OEP to enroll in an individual health insurance policy for 2022.22
If you missed the 2021 Open Enrollment Period in your state and you do not qualify for an SEP, you can apply for a short-term health insurance plan. Short-term health insurance coverage can be purchased outside of OEP for up to 364 days, and you can reapply for short-term coverage for up to 36 months in most states. Short-term health insurance plans might be a good, temporary fit for healthy people, as they will not cover pre-existing conditions like Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans.
If you do not qualify for an SEP and decide not to apply for a short-term health plan, you will have to wait until Open Enrollment 2022 begins in fall 2021.22
HealthMarkets can help you determine whether you qualify for an SEP and find an individual health plan that meets your needs. Shop, compare, and enroll in a health plan today.
