What Should I Do If I Missed Open Enrollment?
Jake Newby
| 4 min read
Key Takeaways
- If you missed the Jan. 15 deadline to sign up for a health insurance plan through work, reach out to your employer to see if you can still make adjustments to your benefits.
- Your benefits team may discuss the terms and qualifications associated with a Special Enrollment Period, which could open a new window to make changes before the coverage year officially begins.
- You do not have to worry about being charged on your tax return for being uninsured in Michigan or at the federal level.
- Other options to consider if you missed open enrollment include Medicaid, CHIP and MIChild.
Open enrollment is a time at the end of each year when employees can enroll in a new health insurance plan or make changes to their existing benefits elections for the upcoming year. Open enrollment is also available for individuals or families who buy their own individual or family health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace.
This year in Michigan, open enrollment for ACA Marketplace plans run through Jan. 15, 2026. You may wonder what your options are if you do not sign up for health insurance by the Jan. 15 deadline. Here’s what you need to know.
What happens when I miss open enrollment at work?
If you forget or fail for any reason to sign up for a new plan at work, some employers automatically renew your plan so that your benefits are the same as last year. In other cases, not signing up for coverage by the Jan. 15 deadline means you and your family members may be without coverage until the next open enrollment period begins.
It's worth reaching out to your employer to see if you can still make adjustments to your benefits. Some organizations are more lenient than others if you forgot to sign up or make changes to an existing coverage plan. Employers may have some flexibility in accommodating changes before coverage officially begins for the new year.
Some employers also offer voluntary benefits, also known as supplemental insurance. Voluntary benefits are considered perks employees can enroll in – sometimes at a group discount – and can be helpful in covering gaps in basic coverage.
What are my options if I miss open enrollment?
If you miss open enrollment through work, your benefits team may discuss the terms and qualifications associated with a Special Enrollment Period (SEP), which could open a new window to make changes before the coverage year officially begins.
Forgetting to sign up for a plan during open enrollment is not a Qualifying Life Event (QLE), according to HealthCare.gov. However, certain QLEs can trigger an SEP, including:
- loss of existing health coverage, including job-based, individual and student plans
- moving
- getting married
- having a baby
- adopting a child
- changes in your income that affect the coverage you qualify for
- turning 26 if your parent’s group plan covers dependents
Becoming eligible to join your spouse’s health plan is only an option if you experience a QLE. Depending on your SEP type, individuals have 60 days before or 60 days after the event to enroll in a plan. Employment-based plans must provide an SEP of at least 30 days.
Will I be charged for missing open enrollment?
If you fail to sign up for a health insurance plan in the Marketplace, there is no longer a federal tax penalty for missing the ACA open enrollment period. You do not have to worry about being charged on your tax return for being uninsured in Michigan or at the federal level.
Other options to consider if you miss open enrollment:
- Medicaid is a joint federal-state health insurance program for low-income individuals who qualify. Medicaid covers adults, children, pregnant women seniors and individuals with disabilities. As a Medicaid expansion state, adults up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) may be eligible in Michigan.
- CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) is a program reserved for families who exceed the Medicare FPL threshold but also may not be able to afford private insurance. Like Medicaid, CHIP is also available year-round with no required Marketplace enrollment window.
- MIChild is another coverage option to explore for those who have or expect to have children under the age of 19. Adults may have children who qualify for coverage under MIChild, a children’s health insurance program. This option has a higher income limit than other Medicaid programs and requires a low monthly premium. It also does not have a once-per-year enrollment window.
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