Open Enrollment is the annual period when individuals/families can sign up for, renew, or make changes to their health insurance coverage for the upcoming year. For most individual and family health insurance plans, Open Enrollment for 2026 coverage runs from November 1st to January 15th in Wisconsin.
- If you enroll by December 15th, your coverage begins January 1, 2026.
- If you enroll between December 16th and January 15th, your coverage starts February 1, 2026.
During this time, you can:
- Enroll in a new health insurance plan.
- Switch from one plan to another.
- Add or remove dependents from your coverage.
- Apply for subsidies or premium tax credits if you qualify.
You’re hearing about it now because this is the main opportunity most people have all year to review their health insurance and make changes. Once Open Enrollment ends, you can only make changes if you experience a qualifying life event, such as losing other coverage, getting married, having a baby, or moving.
Why Employers Talk About Open Enrollment Too
If you get health insurance through your employer, your company likely sets its own annual Open Enrollment period around the same time of year. Most group health plans renew on January 1, so fall is when employers:
- Share plan updates or changes for the new year.
- Offer employees the chance to add, change, or drop coverage.
- Allow updates to flexible spending accounts (FSAs) or health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs).
Even if you’re happy with your current group health coverage, it’s smart to review your options. Premiums, deductibles, and covered services can change each year, and you might want to add or remove dependents or adjust other benefits.
The bottom line: Whether you buy your own health insurance or get it through work, this is the time of year to review your coverage and make sure it still fits your needs and budget for the year ahead.