Small Business Open Enrollment for Employers

There is no single national date. Your group open enrollment is set by your plan's renewal or anniversary date. Employees choose or change coverage in the weeks before that date, usually a two to four week window.

Yes. Group coverage can begin in any month. You do not have to wait for the individual market open enrollment window that runs in the fall. Many employers start mid year.

Most employers run a two to four week window before the plan's effective date. That gives employees time to review options, ask questions, and submit their choices without dragging the process out.

Individual and family plans have a fixed fall window, currently November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 (enroll by December 15 for a January 1 start). Group open enrollment is tied to each employer's own renewal date and can fall in any month.

During your open enrollment window employees can enroll, waive coverage, switch plans if you offer more than one, and add or remove dependents such as a spouse or children.

An employee who misses the window generally waits until the next renewal, unless they have a qualifying life event such as marriage, a new baby, or loss of other coverage, which opens a special enrollment period.

New hires enroll during onboarding, within the eligibility window your plan sets, commonly after a waiting period of up to 90 days. They do not have to wait for the group's annual open enrollment.

Yes, with a qualifying life event like marriage or the birth or adoption of a child. That event opens a special enrollment period so the dependent can be added outside the normal window.

In most states you can set up a group plan with as few as two enrolled employees. We compare fully insured, level funded, and ICHRA options to find the best fit for your size and budget.

If you have fewer than 50 full time equivalent employees, coverage is optional. At 50 or more, the ACA employer mandate applies. We help you understand where you stand and stay compliant.

Yes. Renewal is the ideal time to shop the market. We compare every major carrier each year so you are not locked into a rate increase, and we manage the switch for your team.

We handle carrier setup, prepare simple materials for your staff, host enrollment meetings or calls, answer employee questions, and process the paperwork so you can stay focused on running your business.