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Once a year, you get the opportunity to take a fresh look at your health insurance and make sure it still fits your life. Open enrollment is your annual window to enroll in, change, or waive health coverage — and the decisions you make during this short period will shape your health care costs and access for the entire year ahead. Whether you’re choosing employer-sponsored coverage or shopping on the Health Insurance Marketplace, a little preparation goes a long way.

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When Does Open Enrollment Happen?

Employer-Sponsored Plans

Most employers hold open enrollment in October or November, with coverage beginning January 1. Your HR department or benefits administrator will announce the exact dates — mark them on your calendar, because missing them means you’re locked into your current plan (or left without coverage) until next year.

Health Insurance Marketplace

The federal Marketplace (and most state-run exchanges) runs open enrollment from November 1 through January 15. Plans selected by December 15 typically take effect January 1; plans selected between December 16 and January 15 generally start February 1.

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How to Choose the Right UHC Plan: A Step-by-Step Approach

Picking a health plan isn’t just about finding the lowest monthly premium. Use this process to make a decision you’ll feel good about all year.
1

Review your health care usage from the past year

Look back at how often you visited doctors, whether you had any hospitalizations, what prescriptions you take regularly, and any planned procedures for the coming year. Your past usage is the best predictor of your future needs. If you have access to your UHC member account, the Cost Summary tool shows your total spending by category.
2

Understand the premium vs. deductible tradeoff

A lower monthly premium usually comes with a higher deductible — meaning you pay more out of pocket before insurance kicks in. If you’re generally healthy and rarely seek care, a high-deductible plan may save you money overall. If you have ongoing medical needs or take expensive medications, a higher-premium plan with a lower deductible often costs less in the long run.
3

Check that your doctors are in-network

Before selecting any plan, verify that your primary care doctor, specialists, and preferred hospital are included in that plan’s network. UHC offers several network types — including HMO, PPO, and EPO options — each with different rules about referrals and out-of-network access. Use the UHC Provider Search tool to confirm network status for each plan you’re considering.
4

Review the prescription drug formulary

Every UHC plan has a formulary — a list of covered medications organized into cost tiers. If you take any regular prescriptions, look up each medication in the formulary for every plan you’re comparing. A plan with a lower premium but a higher drug tier for your medications could end up costing you significantly more.
5

Consider HSA eligibility if it fits your situation

If you choose a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), you become eligible to open and contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA). Contributions to an HSA are tax-deductible, grow tax-free, and can be withdrawn tax-free for qualified medical expenses — now or in the future. For healthy individuals or those who want to save for future health costs, an HSA-eligible plan can be a powerful financial tool.
6

Compare total estimated annual costs — not just the premium

Add up the full picture: annual premium + estimated out-of-pocket costs (based on your expected usage) + any employer contributions or HSA benefits. UHC’s plan comparison tools can help you model these numbers side by side so you’re comparing apples to apples.
7

Enroll before the deadline

Once you’ve made your decision, complete your enrollment through your employer’s benefits portal or at healthcare.gov (or your state’s Marketplace). Don’t wait until the last day — technical issues or missing documentation can delay your enrollment.
Use UHC’s Plan Comparison Tool, available in your member account or during the shopping experience at uhc.com, to view two or more plans side by side. It displays premiums, deductibles, copays, coinsurance rates, and out-of-pocket maximums in a clean, comparable format — making it much easier to spot the real cost differences between options.

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Key Questions to Ask Before You Choose

Always verify before you enroll, not after. If continuity of care with a specific provider is important to you, confirm their participation in each plan you’re considering. Being seen out-of-network can cost two to three times as much as in-network care, or may not be covered at all under some plan types.
The out-of-pocket maximum is the most you’ll ever pay in a single plan year for covered services. Once you hit it, UHC pays 100% of covered costs for the rest of the year. For people with serious health conditions or high expected utilization, this number can be the most important figure on the plan summary.
Formularies change annually — even if your current plan covered your medications well, next year’s formulary may place them in a higher (more expensive) tier. Review the formulary for each new plan year during open enrollment, even if you’re planning to stay on your current plan.
Under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, most health plans must cover mental health services at the same level as physical health services. Check whether the plan covers therapy, psychiatry, and substance use treatment, and confirm the copay or coinsurance amounts for these services.

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Special Enrollment Periods

If you miss open enrollment, you’re not necessarily out of options. A Special Enrollment Period (SEP) allows you to enroll or change plans mid-year if you experience a qualifying life event, such as:
  • Losing other health coverage (e.g., leaving a job)
  • Getting married or divorced
  • Having or adopting a child
  • Moving to a new coverage area
You typically have 30 to 60 days from the qualifying event to enroll. Document the event carefully, as proof is required.

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What Happens If You Miss Open Enrollment?

If you miss both open enrollment and don’t have a qualifying event for a Special Enrollment Period, you won’t be able to enroll in or change plans until the next open enrollment window. This could leave you without coverage — or stuck in a plan that no longer meets your needs — for up to a year. Set reminders well in advance of your enrollment window closing date.
Open enrollment only comes around once a year, so it’s worth giving it your full attention. A few hours of comparison shopping now can save you hundreds — or even thousands — of dollars over the coming year, and ensure you have the right coverage when you need it most.