Navigating Open Enrollment for Health Insurance

Open enrollment is a critical period during which you’re tasked with making decisions about your health insurance that will likely remain in effect for the entirety of the coming year. Although there may sometimes be situations that allow you to make adjustments during a special enrollment period, generally, what you decide on during open enrollment is what you’ll have. Given the importance of these decisions, you should be fully committed to carefully navigating the open enrollment process.

Five Key Open Enrollment Steps

To ensure you and your family have access to appropriate preventive and medical services in 2025, be thorough and diligent in approaching open enrollment. Specifically, you should be mindful of the following steps:

1. Understand deadlines. Open enrollment typically runs from Nov. 1 through Jan. 15 of the following year; however, some states may adjust these dates. Additionally, if you get coverage through your employer, they may also set their own schedule.
2. Review current coverage. Analyze the coverage you selected for this past year and identify any gaps, such as services or products you required but had to pay for out of pocket. You may also want to seek out coverage options that you may have paid for but did not use, as you may want to avoid renewing them in 2025.
3. Identify changes in plans. Even if you were happy with your plan this year, you should be mindful of how it might change. Be sure to understand any changes in pricing and networks, as you’ll likely want to ensure that your primary care provider and other preferred services remain covered.
4. Consider your health. Has anything changed regarding your or your family’s coverage needs? Be mindful of any conditions you may have developed and potential future plans, such as if you’re trying to have a child.
5. Enlist outside help. Regardless of how thorough you may be, getting help from knowledgeable professionals, such as insurance agents or your employer’s HR team, is generally advisable to avoid misunderstandings.

Get the Right Coverage

Contact United Benefits Solutions today to learn more about open enrollment and how to ensure you have the right coverage heading into 2025.

This blog is intended for informational and educational use only. It is not exhaustive and should not be construed as legal advice. Please contact your insurance professional for further information.