2021 Individual Market Health Insurance Enrollment Periods
Updated Aug 18, 2021
This chart describes the regular and special enrollment periods when individuals may sign up for health insurance coverage through either the federal marketplace (healthcare.gov, which 36 states use) or state-operated marketplaces (used by 14 states and Washington, DC).
| Marketplace | Original 2021 Open Enrollment Period | 2021 COVID-19 Special Enrollment Period (SEP) |
| Federally facilitated marketplace (36 states) |
Nov. 1 – Dec. 15, 2020 | Feb. 15 – May 15, 2021* |
| State-Operated Marketplaces | ||
| California | Nov. 1, 2020 – Jan. 31, 2021 | Feb. 1 – May 15, 2021 and April 12- Dec. 31, 2021** |
| Colorado | Nov. 1, 2020 – Jan. 15, 2021 | Feb.8 – Aug. 15, 2021 |
| Connecticut | Nov. 1, 2020 – Jan. 15, 2021 | Feb. 15 – April 15, 2021 and May 1- Oct 31, 2021 |
| DC | Nov. 1, 2020 – Jan. 31, 2021 | Jan.1, 2021 – Jan. 31, 2022*** |
| Idaho | Nov. 1 – Dec. 31, 2020 | Mar. 1- April 30, 2021 |
| Maryland | Nov. 1 – Dec. 15, 2020 | Jan. 1 – Aug 15, 2021 |
| Massachusetts | Nov. 1, 2020 – July 23, 2021 | |
| Minnesota | Nov. 1 – Dec. 22, 2020 | Feb. 16 – July 16, 2021 |
| Nevada | Nov. 1, 2020 – Jan. 15, 2021 | Feb. 15 – August 15, 2021 |
| New Jersey | Nov. 1, 2020 – Jan. 31, 2021 | Feb. 1 – Nov. 30, 2021 |
| New York | Nov. 1, 2020 – December 31, 2021 | |
| Pennsylvania | Nov. 1, 2020 – Jan. 15, 2021 | Feb. 15 – Aug. 15, 2021 |
| Rhode Island | Nov. 1, 2020 – Jan. 23, 2021 | Feb.1 – Aug. 15, 2021 |
| Vermont | Nov. 1, 2020 – Dec. 15, 2020 | Feb. 16 –Oct. 1, 2021 |
| Washington State | Nov. 1, 2020 – Jan. 15, 2021 | Feb. 15 – Aug. 15, 2021 |
*Heathcare.gov opened a special enrollment period as a result of President Biden’s Jan. 28, 2021 executive order designed to strengthen Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act enrollment.
**California closed its COVID-19 SEP on May 15, 2021 and reopened a new, separate SEP in response to the American Rescue Plan Act on April 12, 2021.
***Washington, DC will extend its COVID-19 SEP through the last day of the DC Health Link Individual & Family 2022 Open Enrollment Period (January 31, 2022), unless the District of Columbia COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), as declared by the Mayor, is still in place on that date, in which case the SEP is available until the end of the month in which the PHE ends.
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
