Federal open enrollment for Americans in need of a 2024 health care plan will run from Nov. 1, 2023, to Jan. 15, 2024. If you live in a state that has its own health insurance exchange, the deadline may be later. You can check out the guide below to find out the details in your state.
Obamacare open enrollment is for people who want to buy or make changes to their individual health plan. If your employer provides health insurance, ask your human resources department when open enrollment takes place; new employees should be able to purchase their company’s health insurance outside of open enrollment if doing so for the first time.
Many premium rates are rising next year due higher hospital labor costs and new and expensive diabetes and obesity drugs, but subsidies will blunt the costs for many people.
If you miss the healthcare open enrollment deadline, you can still purchase health insurance during a special enrollment period to buy coverage. Special enrollment is generally tied to a qualifying life event, like marriage, divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, a move across state lines, or the loss of health insurance.
If you’re eligible for Medicaid, you can apply for it at any time during the year. Read this state-by-state guide to Medicaid to see if you qualify. If you’re eligible for Medicare, then you may already be enrolled, although many people still need to apply for it, so be sure to check your enrollment status on Medicare.gov. Medicare is a public health insurance program for people over age 65 and people with severe disabilities.
Scroll down to see open enrollment dates, projected premiums, participating insurers and other important information regarding open enrollment 2023 in your state. Plans purchased through the health insurance marketplace during the upcoming open enrollment period by Dec. 15 will begin Jan. 1, 2024.
A health insurance plan purchased between Jan. 1 and Jan. 15 will take effect on Feb. 1, 2024.
Note: Unless otherwise noted, premium rate changes are pending approval by the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
Alabama
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company proposed an average decrease of 15.1%. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama and Celtic Insurance Company proposed average increases of 3.1% and 0.9%, respectively.
Participating insurers: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, Celtic Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company
Other stuff to know: Alabama is one of only 10 states that has not expanded Medicaid to cover everyone below a certain income level.
Alaska
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Moda Health Plan proposed an average increase of 10.5% and Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska proposed an average increase of 17.7%.
Participating insurers: Moda Health Plan, Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska
Other stuff to know: A new law extends postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months.
Arizona
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Four of the seven insurers on the marketplace proposed average decreases ranging from 1% to 8%. The others proposed average increases ranging from 2% to 7.2%.
Participating insurers: Banner Health and Aetna Health Plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Health Net of Arizona, Imperial Insurance Companies, Medica Community Health Plan, Oscar Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare of Arizona
Other stuff to know: A judge banned Arizona from excluding gender-affirming care from state health insurance plans.
Arkansas
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Arkansas approved an average decrease of 1.7% for QCA Health Plan and average increases for other insurers ranging from 0.1% to 7.7%.
Participating insurers: Celtic Insurance Company (Ambetter), USAble Mutual (Blue Cross Blue Shield), HMO Partners (Health Advantage), QCA Health Plan, QualChoice
Other stuff to know:
California
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 31, 2024
Marketplace: Covered California
What’s happening to premiums: Insurers proposed average increases ranging from 0.2% to 15%.
Participating insurers: Aetna CVS Health, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Chinese Community Health Plan, Health Net, Kaiser Permanente, LA Care Health Plan, Molina Healthcare Sharp Health Plan, Valley Health Plan, Western Health Advantage, Inland Empire Health Plan
Other stuff to know: Inland Empire Health Plan is new to the market for 2024, offering coverage in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Colorado
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Connect for Health Colorado
What’s happening to premiums: Insurers proposed average increases ranging from 7.8% to 13.7%.
Participating insurers: Anthem, Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Denver Health Medical Plan, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado, Rocky Mountain Health Maintenance Organization, Select Health
Other stuff to know: Select Health is new to the market for 2024.
Connecticut
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Access Health CT
What’s happening to premiums: Anthem Health Plans proposed an average increase of 9.8%, while ConnectiCare Benefits proposed an average increase of 13%.
Participating insurers: Anthem Health Plans, ConnectiCare Benefits, Inc
Other stuff to know: Gov. Ned Lamont signed a law in June aimed at reducing health care costs.
Delaware
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Delaware approved an average decrease of 4.5% or Amerihealth Caritas and average increases of 2% and 3.2% for Aetna Health and Highmark, respectively.
Participating insurers: Aetna Health, AmeriHealth Caritas, Highmark, Celtic Insurance Company
Other stuff to know: Celtic Insurance Company is joining the marketplace in 2024.
District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.)
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 31, 2024
Marketplace: DC Health Link
What’s happening to premiums: Insurers propose average increases ranging from 9.9% to 18.2%.
Participating insurers: CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, GHMSI, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States
Other stuff to know: The city passed a law to expand healthcare coverage to include fertility diagnosis screenings and treatment.
Florida
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Insurers proposed average increases ranging from 1.1% to 16.1%.
Participating insurers: Aetna Health, AvMed, Amerihealth Caritas Florida, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Capital Health Plan, Celtic Insurance Company, Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Florida Health Care Plan, Health First Commercial Plans, Health Options, Molina Healthcare of Florida, Oscar Insurance Company, Sunshine State Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare of Florida
Other stuff to know:
Georgia
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Insurers propose average increases ranging from 6.4 to 39.9%.
Participating insurers: Aetna Health, Alliant Health Plans, Ambetter of Peach State, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, CareSource Georgia, Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia, Oscar Health Plan of Georgia, UnitedHealthcare of Georgia
Other stuff to know: Georgia launched a Medicaid program for low-income adults that requires them to work.
Hawaii
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Hawaii approved average rate increases of 11.6% for Hawaii Medical Service Association and 3% for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan.
Participating insurers: Hawaii Medical Service Association, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan
Other stuff to know:
Idaho
Enrollment deadline: Dec. 15, 2023
Marketplace: Your Health Idaho
What’s happening to premiums: Idaho approved average decreases for Mountain Health, PacificSource Health Plans, Regence BlueShield of Idaho, and St. Lukes Health Plan ranging from 2% (Mountain Health) to 13% (PacificSource). Other insurers’ rates are remaining flat or increasing by an average of 1%.
Participating insurers: Blue Cross of Idaho Health Service, Moda Health Plan, Molina Healthcare, Montana Health, PacificSource Health Plans, Regence BlueShield of Idaho, SelectHealth, St. Luke’s Health Plan
Other stuff to know: While Idaho has an earlier Dec. 15 deadline to sign up for insurance, open enrollment also started earlier, on Oct. 15.
Illinois
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2023
Marketplace: Get Covered Illinois
What’s happening to premiums: Aetna Health proposed an average decrease of 2.9%. Other insurers proposed average rate increases ranging from 3% to 22.2%.
Participating insurers: Aetna Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Celtic Insurance Company, Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Health Alliance Medical Plans, MercyCare, Molina Healthcare of Illinois, Oscar Health Plan, Quartz Health Benefit Plans Corporation, SSM Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare of Illinois
Other stuff to know: Illinois passed a law in June establishing a state-based exchange for plans sold under the Affordable Care Act.
Indiana
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Anthem BCBS proposed an average decrease of 0.95%. Other insurers proposed average rate increases ranging from 0.6% to 12.9%.
Participating insurers: Anthem BCBS, CareSource Indiana, Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Celtic Insurance Company, US Health and Life Insurance Company
Other stuff to know:
Iowa
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Wellmark proposed an average decrease of 7.38, while Medica and Oscar proposed increases averaging 3.14% and 0.5%, respectively.
Participating insurers: Medica Insurance Company, Oscar Insurance Company, Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa
Other stuff to know:
Kansas
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City proposed an average decrease of 10.05%. Other insurers proposed average premium rate increases ranging from 0.05%% to 13.32%.
Participating insurers: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, Celtic Insurance Company, Cigna, Medica Insurance Company, Oscar Insurance Company, US Health and Life, UnitedHealthcare
Other stuff to know: Kansas has had a higher uninsured rate than the national average for two straight years.
Kentucky
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2023
Marketplace: Kynect
What’s happening to premiums: Kentucky approved average decreases of 2.2% and 1.6% for Molina Healthcare of Kentucky and WellCare Health Plans of Kentucky, respectively. Kentucky approved average increases of 6.5% and 11.5% for Anthem Health Plans of Kentucky and CareSource Kentucky, respectively.
Participating insurers: Anthem Health Plans of Kentucky, CareSource Kentucky, Molina Healthcare of Kentucky, WellCare Health Plans of Kentucky
Other stuff to know:
Louisiana
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company proposed an average decrease of 6.83%. The other insurers proposed average increases ranging from 4.55% to 11.75%.
Participating insurers: CHRISTUS Health Plan Louisiana, HMO Louisiana, Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company, Louisiana Healthcare Connections, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company
Other stuff to know:
Maine
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: CoverME.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Maine approved average increases ranging from 11.4% to 17.7%, for a weighted average of 14.6%.
Participating insurers: Anthem Healthplans of Maine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Main Community Health Options, and Taro Health Plan of Maine.
Other stuff to know: The Maine Medical Association endorsed a statement calling for universal taxpayer-funded health insurance coverage.
Maryland
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Maryland Health Connection
What’s happening to premiums: Optimum Choice proposed an average decrease of 1.2%. CareFirst and Kaiser proposed average increases of 4.1% and 8.3%, respectively.
Participating insurers: CareFirst, Kaiser, Optimum Choice, and Aetna Health.
Other stuff to know: Aetna Health is new to the exchange in 2024.
Massachusetts
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 23, 2024
Marketplace: Massachusetts Health Connector
What’s happening to premiums: Massachusetts approved a 3.3% average decrease for Boston Medical Center Health Plan (Well Sense Health Plan) and average increases for other insurers ranging from 1.2% to 9.9%.
Participating insurers: Mass General Brigham Health Plan, Boston Medical Center Health Plan/WellSense Health Plan, Fallon Community Health Plan, Health New England, Tufts Health Plan Direct, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, UnitedHealthcare
Other stuff to know: Massachusetts expanded access to its ConnectorCare low-cost health insurance to an estimated 50,000 more people.
Michigan
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Insurers proposed average increases ranging from 3.91% to 18.96%.
Participating insurers: Blue Care Network of Michigan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Mutual Insurance Co., McLaren Health Plan Community, Meridian Health Plan of Michigan, Molina Healthcare of Michigan, Oscar Insurance Co., Physicians Health Plan, Priority Health, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, US Health and Life Insurance Co.
Other stuff to know: Bov. Gretchen Whitmer said all health insurers would agree to maintain coverage for preventive services despite a Texas court ruling ending a requirement that insurers cover these services without copays or deductibles.
Minnesota
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: MNsure
What’s happening to premiums: Minnesota approved average rate increases ranging from 1.9% to 5.5%.
Participating insurers: Blue Plus, HealthPartners (formerly Group Health), Medica Insurance Company, Quartz Health PLan MN, UCare
Other stuff to know: About 167,000 Minnesotans buy individual health plans.
Mississippi
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Molina Healthcare of Mississippi proposed an average decrease of 0.91% Insurers requested average rate increases ranging from 0.86% to 8.07%.
Participating insurers: Ambetter of Magnolia, Cigna Health and Life Insurance, Molina Healthcare of Mississippi, UnitedHealthcare, Vantage Health Plan
Other stuff to know: Mississippi remains one of the few states not to expand Medicaid to low-income residents.
Missouri
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Cox Health Systems Insurance Company, and Medica Insurance Company proposed average decreases of 4.3%, 4.15%, and 0.19%, respectively. Other insurers requested average rate increases from 1.4% to 18.71%.
Participating insurers: Aetna Life Insurance Company, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Celtic Insurance Company, Cox Health Systems Insurance Company, Healthy Alliance Life Co (Anthem BCBS), Medica Insurance Company, Oscar Insurance Company, SSM Health Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company
Other stuff to know: Cigna is exiting the Missouri health insurance exchange for 2024.
Montana
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Insurers proposed average increases ranging from 1.52% to 6.39%.
Participating insurers: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana, Montana Health Cooperative, PacificSource Health Plans
Other stuff to know:
Nebraska
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Oscar proposed an average decrease of 3.4%. Other insurers proposed average increases ranging from 2.5% to 6.74%.
Participating insurers: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, Medica Insurance Company, Nebraska Total Care, Oscar Insurance Company
Other stuff to know:
Nevada
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Nevada Health Link
What’s happening to premiums: HMO Nevada and Hometown Health Plan proposed decreases of 4.16% and 8.34%, respectively. Other insurers proposed average increases ranging from 1.16% to 4.88%.
Participating insurers: Aetna, Health Plan of Nevada, HMO Nevada, Hometown Health Plan, SelectHealth, SilverSummit
Other stuff to know: Imperial and Molina will start offering plans in 2024.
New Hampshire
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Harvard Pilgrim proposed an average decrease of 4.85%. Celtic and Matthew Thornton proposed increases of 0.67% and 4.25%, respectively.
Participating insurers: Celtic, Harvard Pilgrim, Matthew Thornton (Anthem BCBS)
Other stuff to know:
New Jersey
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 31, 2024
Marketplace: Get Covered New Jersey
What’s happening to premiums: Insurers proposed average increases ranging from 3.79% to 13.81%.
Participating insurers: Aetna, AmeriHealth, Horizon, Oscar, WellCare
Other stuff to know:
New Mexico
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange (beWellnm)
What’s happening to premiums: Insurers proposed average rate increases ranging from 1.06% to 11.66%.
Participating insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Molina, Presbyterian Health Plan, Western Sky
Other stuff to know: UnitedHealthcare is offering plans starting in 2024.
New York
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 31, 2024
Marketplace: NY State of Health
What’s happening to premiums: New York approved average increases ranging from 6.5% to 25.3%.
Participating insurers: Anthem, CHPHP, Emblem, Excellus, Fidelis, Healthfirst, Highmark, IHBC, MetroPlus, MVP Health Plan, Oscar, UnitedHealthcare
Other stuff to know: One in three New Yorkers receives health care coverage through NY State of Health.
North Carolina
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Blue Cross and Blue Shield, CareSource, and UnitedHealthcare proposed average decreases of 3.98%, 4.2%, and 8.16%, respectively. Other insurers proposed average increases ranging from 0.96% to 7.23%.
Participating insurers: Aetna, Ambetter, Amerihealth, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, CareSource, Celtic, Cigna, Oscar, UnitedHealthcare
Other stuff to know: Medicaid expansion is set to take effect in North Carolina on Dec. 1.
North Dakota
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: North Dakota approved average increases ranging from 1.38% to 5.2%.
Participating insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Sanford, Medica
Other stuff to know: About 45,000 North Dakotans are insured through the individual market.
Ohio
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Insurers proposed average increases ranging from 4.05% to 12.44%.
Participating insurers: AultCare, Buckeye Community Health Plan, CareSource, Community Insurance Company (Anthem BCBS), Molina, Oscar, Paramount, Summa, UnitedHealthcare
Other stuff to know:
Oklahoma
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Medica and UnitedHealthcare proposed average decreases of 0.41% and 3.45%, respectively. Other insurers proposed average increases ranging from 1.61% to 6.09%.
Participating insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Celtic, CommunityCare, Medica, Oscar, UnitedHealthcare
Other stuff to know: Taro Health will offer insurance on the marketplace starting in 2024.
Oregon
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Oregon approved average increases ranging from 3.5% to 8.5%, with an average increase of 6.2%.
Participating insurers: BridgeSpan, Kaiser Foundation, Moda Health Plan, PacificSource, Providence, Regence BlueCross BlueShield
Other stuff to know: The state expanded its Oregon Health Plan, its Medicaid program, to anyone who meets its criteria, regardless of immigration status.
Pennsylvania
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Pennie
What’s happening to premiums: Independence Blue Cross and Keystone Health Plan East proposed average decreases of 2.68% and 3.45%, respectively. Other insurers proposed average increases ranging from 6.37% to 13.21%.
Participating insurers: Capital Advantage, Cigna, Geisinger, Highmark, Independence Blue Cross, Keystone Health Plan, Oscar, Pennsylvania Health & Wellness, UPMC
Other stuff to know: Jefferson will offer Obamacare health plans to residents of Philadelphia, Bucks, and Montgomery counties for the first time.
Rhode Island
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 31, 2024
Marketplace: HealthSource RI
What’s happening to premiums: Blue Cross & Blue Shield and Neighborhood Health Plan proposed average increases of 9.28% and 4.45%, respectively.
Participating insurers: Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Neighborhood Health Plan
Other stuff to know: Rhode Island is one of the few states with an individual mandate, meaning that Rhode Islanders will need to maintain qualifying health coverage or face a tax penalty.
South Carolina
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Select Health proposed an average decrease of 4.6%. Other insurers proposed average increases ranging from 1.48% to 10.53%.
Participating insurers: Absolute Total Care, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Molina Healthcare, Cigna, Select Health
Other stuff to know:
South Dakota
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Sanford proposed an average decrease of 0.39%. Avera and Wellmark proposed average increases of 5.88% and 1.03%, respectively.
Participating insurers: Avera, Sanford, Wellmark
Other stuff to know: South Dakota expanded Medicaid to all adults aged 19 to 64 with incomes under 138% of the federal poverty level.
Tennessee
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Oscar Insurance proposed an average decrease of 0.32%. Other insurers proposed increases ranging from 1.88% to 12.05%.
Participating insurers: BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Celtic, Cigna, Oscar, UnitedHealthcare, US Health and Life
Other stuff to know:
Texas
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Blue Cross Blue Shield, CHRISTUS, and Sendero proposed average decreases of 0.24%, 1.42%, and 10.54%, respectively. Other insurers proposed average increases ranging from 1.2% to 14.94%.
Participating insurers: Aetna Health, Baylor Scott & White Insurance, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Celtic Insurance, CHRISTUS Health Plan, Cigna HealthCare of Texas, Community First, Community Health Choice, Imperial Insurance Companies, Moda Health Plan, Molina Healthcare of Texas, Oscar Insurance, Sendero Health Plans, Superior Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare of Texas, US Health and Life
Other stuff to know: The percentage of Texans without health coverage, 16.6%, was at one of the lowest points in a decade, though the state still has the most uninsured Americans.
Utah
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Molina Healthcare proposed an average decrease of 5.66%. Other insurers proposed average increases ranging from 0.01% to 11.92%.
Participating insurers: BridgeSpan Health Company, Cigna, Molina Healthcare of Utah, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah, SelectHealth, University of Utah Health Insurance Plans
Other stuff to know: Utah legislators passed a bill allowing children of immigrants to be eligible for the state Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Vermont
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Vermont Health Connect
What’s happening to premiums: Vermont approved an average rate increase of 14% for Blue Cross Blue Shield and 11% for MVP Health Plan.
Participating insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, MVP Health Plan
Other stuff to know: Vermont’s top three insurance companies will reimburse customers for improper charges for contraception coverage.
Virginia
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Insurers across the board proposed average decreases, ranging from 11.09% to 99.94%.
Participating insurers: Aetna, Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, CareFirst BlueChoice, Cigna, Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, HealthKeepers, Innovation Health Plan, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Optima Health Plan, Optimum Choice, Oscar, and Piedmont Community HealthCare
Other stuff to know: Federal regulators say a state law allowing realtors to create their own health insurance plan violates federal law.
Washington
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Washington Healthplanfinder
What’s happening to premiums: Final rates are decreasing by an average of 1.21% and 0.47% for Community Health Plan of Washington and UnitedHealthcare of Oregon, respectively. Other insurers’ final increases range from an average of 4.4% to 17.81%.
Participating insurers: Bridgespan Health Company, Community Health Plan, Coordinated Care Corporation, Kaiser Foundation, LifeWise Health Plan of Washington, Molina Healthcare of Washington, PacificSource Health Plans, Premera Blue Cross, Regence, UnitedHealthcare of Oregon
Other stuff to know: Washington has expanded access to health plans to residents regardless of immigration status.
West Virginia
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Insurers proposed average increases ranging from 1.13% to 2.1%.
Participating insurers: CareSource, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Other stuff to know: West Virginia Navigator provides free assistance to people selecting health care options through the marketplace.
Wisconsin
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Insurers proposed average increases ranging from 2.99% to 15.76%.
Participating insurers: Aspirus Health Plan, Chorus Community Health Plans, Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative, Compcare Health Serv (Anthem BCBS), Dean Health Plan, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, HealthPartners, Medica Community Health Plan, MercyCare, Molina Healthcare, Network Health Plan, Quartz Health Benefit Plans Corporation, Security Health Plan, Wisconsin Physicians Svc
Other stuff to know: UnitedHealthcare plans to sell coverage on the individual health insurance market in Wisconsin starting next year.
Wyoming
Enrollment deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Blue Cross Blue Shield proposed an average decrease of 7.01%, while Montana Health Cooperative proposed an average increase of 7.59%.
Participating insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming, Montana Health Cooperative
Other stuff to know: Enroll Wyoming is a nonprofit helping Wyoming residents navigate the marketplace.
Finding a health care plan for 2024
If your state health insurance marketplace has closed and you're not eligible for Medicaid or Medicare, the federal health insurance program for citizens and permanent residents at retirement age, you will need to qualify for a special enrollment period to buy an Obamacare plan.
You generally qualify for special enrollment after:
The loss other health coverage
Marriage
Divorce
The birth of a baby
The adoption a child
Moving across state lines
Gaining Citizenship or "lawful presence in the U.S."
Leaving incarceration
If you qualify for special enrollment, check out our guide to shopping the health insurance exchanges.
Health insurance alternatives
If you don't qualify for special enrollment and need health insurance or can't find an affordable plan in your area, there are a few ways to get at least some level of coverage. These include:
COBRA or The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which lets you keep a health care plan from an ex-employer for up to 36 months, at the full cost of the policy. Learn more about COBRA.
Short-term health insurance, which is cheaper, but much less comprehensive than traditional coverage. These plans don't have to cover pre-existing conditions or Obamacare's essential benefits.
Health care sharing ministries are faith-based alternatives to health insurance in which individuals and families pay a monthly “sharing amount” similar to a health insurance premium and use those funds to cover ministry-approved medical expenses.
