Your state-by-state guide to the 2022 Obamacare health insurance open enrollment period
Open enrollment is the time to buy health insurance on the Obamacare marketplace. Find out when your open enrollment is and whether premiums will be changing.
Updated October 22, 2021|19 min read
Federal open enrollment for Americans in need of a 2022 health care plan will run from November 1, 2021, to January 15, 2022. If you live in a state that has its own health insurance exchange, the deadline may be later. You can check out the guide below to find out the details in your state.
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Obamacare open enrollment is for people who want to buy or make changes to their individual health plan. If your employer provides health insurance, ask your human resources department when open enrollment takes place; new employees should be able to purchase their company’s health insurance outside of open enrollment if doing so for the first time.
Premium rates remain mostly stable over last year, with most insurers posting only a small increase.
If you miss the healthcare open enrollment deadline, you can still purchase health insurance during a special enrollment period to buy coverage. Special enrollment is generally tied to a qualifying life event, like marriage, divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, a move across state lines, or the loss of health insurance.
If you’re eligible for Medicaid, you can apply for it at any time during the year. Read this state-by-state guide to Medicaid to see if you qualify. If you’re eligible for Medicare, then you may already be enrolled, although many people still need to apply for it, so be sure to check your enrollment status on Medicare.gov. Medicare is a public health insurance program for people over age 65 and people with severe disabilities.
Scroll down to see open enrollment dates, projected premiums, participating insurers and other important information regarding open enrollment 2021 in your state. Plans purchased through the health insurance marketplace during the upcoming open enrollment period by December 15 will begin January 1, 2022.
The Biden administration has extended the open enrollment period until January 15, 2022, for federal Obamacare plans. A health insurance plan purchased between January 1 and January 15 will take effect on February 1, 2022.
Note: Unless otherwise noted, premium rate changes are pending approval by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
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Alabama
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Whether premiums are higher or lower for 2022 will depend on which insurer you use. Average rates for Blue Cross Blue Shield are 7.15% higher, but rates for Bright Health are 15.51% lower.
Participating insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Bright Health, UnitedHealthcare
Other stuff to know: UnitedHealthcare is rejoining the exchange in Alabama for the first time since 2016.
Alaska
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Premiums for 2022 will generally be close to last year’s rates or higher. Moda’s premiums are expected to stay mostly the same but Blue Cross Blue Shield has proposed increases by an average of nearly 12%.
Participating insurers: Moda Assurance, Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield
Other stuff to know: Premiums are expected to increase this year, but premium tax credits and income limits have increased under the federal American Rescue Plan and people who didn’t previously qualify for premium tax credits may now qualify.
Arizona
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Average premiums are expected to decrease for four of the six insurance companies selling marketplace plans in Arizona. UnitedHealthcare has proposed a decrease of more than 22%. Health Net of Arizona and Cigna have proposed rate increases of 3.49% and 9.5%, respectively.
Participating insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Bright Health, Cigna, Health Net of Arizona, Oscar, UnitedHealthcare
Other stuff to know: Banner Health and Aetna/CVS will also offer health insurance plans through the ACA marketplace for residents of Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima counties.
Arkansas
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Health insurance companies in Arkansas have proposed premium increases across the board, ranging from 4.9% to 7.78%.
Participating insurers: Ambetter (Celtic Insurance Company), USAble Mutual (Blue Cross Blue Shield), HMO Partners, Oscar
Other stuff to know: Oscar is joining the Arkansas exchange for the first time.
California
Enrollment deadline: January 31, 2022
Marketplace: Covered California
What’s happening to premiums: Overall, average premiums will rise slightly — 1.8%. Eight of 11 insurers will increase or decrease average premiums by less than 3% with Oscar plans seeing the highest increase at 8.6%.
Participating insurers: Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Chinese Community Health Plan, Health Net, Kaiser Permanente, LA Care Health Plan, Molina Healthcare, Oscar Health Plan of California, Sharp Health Plan, Valley Health Plan, Western Health Advantage
Other stuff to know: Over the past three years, covering the launch of California’s state subsidy program, average rates have increased a total of just 1.1%.
Colorado
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Connect for Health Colorado
What’s happening to premiums: Average premiums will increase 1.4% overall for 2022.
Participating insurers: Anthem, Bright Health, Cigna Health, Denver Health, Friday Health, Kaiser, Rocky Mountain Health Plans, Oscar Health
Other stuff to know: Colorado legislators signed a bill in 2021 that will create a public option (Colorado Option) in the state, but that won’t be available until 2023.
Connecticut
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Access Health CT
What’s happening to premiums: Average premiums will increase by 5.6% for 2022 exchange plans.
Participating insurers: Anthem, ConnectiCare Benefits, Inc., ConnectiCare Insurance Company
Other stuff to know: ConnectiCare Insurance Company is joining the exchange for 2022 plans after only having off-exchange plans for 2021.
Delaware
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Average rates will decrease by 1% for Obamacare plans from Highmark, the only insurance company offering exchange plans.
Participating insurers: Highmark (Blue Cross Blue Shield)
Other stuff to know:
District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.)
Enrollment deadline: January 31, 2022
Marketplace: DC Health Link
What’s happening to premiums: Premiums will increase by 5% for 2022 plans on the D.C. exchange.
Participating insurers: CVS/Aetna, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Kaiser Permanente, United Healthcare
Other stuff to know:
Florida
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Premiums will increase for 2022 plans by an average of 6.6%.
Participating insurers: AvMed, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Bright Health, Capital Health Plan, Celtic Insurance Company, Cigna, Coventry Health Plan of Florida (Aetna/CVS), Florida Health Care Plan, Health First Commercial Plans, Health Options, Molina Healthcare of Florida, Oscar Insurance Company, Sunshine State Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare of Florida
Other stuff to know: Florida has the highest enrollment in exchange plans across all states.
Georgia
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Premiums will decrease overall, with five of the six insurance companies from last year planning to decrease their rates. Alliant and Oscar have both proposed rate decreases of more than 20%. The one insurer raising rates, Ambetter, has proposed an increase of 5.22%.
Participating insurers: Aetna, Alliant, Ambetter, Blue Cross, Bright Health, CareSource, Cigna, Friday Health Plan, Kaiser Permanente, Oscar, UnitedHealthcare
Other stuff to know: Five insurers are joining the exchange, meaning a total of 11 companies offering 2022 exchange plans in Georgia. That’s the most since the exchange opened.
Hawaii
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Insurance companies in Hawaii have proposed increasing rates, from a 0.01% increase to a 4.27% increase depending on the company.
Participating insurers: Hawaii Medical Service Association, Kaiser Foundation
Other stuff to know:
Idaho
Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2021
Marketplace: Your Health Idaho
What’s happening to premiums: Idaho’s final health insurance rates show an average decrease of 2%, with decreases ranging from 1% to 4% and one insurer raising rates by 2%.
Participating insurers: Blue Cross of Idaho Health Service, Mountain Health Co-Op, PacificSource Health Plans, Regence BlueShield of Idaho, SelectHealth
Other stuff to know: Molina will join Idaho’s health insurance marketplace for the first time in 2022.
Illinois
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Get Covered Illinois (in partnership with Healthcare.gov)
What’s happening to premiums: Six out of the seven insurers in Illinois have requested premiums rate increases, averaging around 6.5%. Rate increases range between 1.34% and 16.45%, with one insurer requesting to decrease premiums 3.21%.
Participating insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Bright Health Insurance, Celtic Insurance Company, Cigna, Health Alliance Medical Plans, MercyCare, Quartz Health Benefit Plans, Oscar
Other stuff to know: Oscar will be available in Illinois for the first time in 2022
Indiana
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: One insurer has requested a premium rate increase of 2.83%, while the other has requested a premium rate decrease of 3.47%.
Participating insurers: Anthem, Celtic Insurance Company
Other stuff to know:
Iowa
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: The three insurance companies in Iowa are offering vastly different premium rate changes. One is requesting a premium rate increase of 11.10%, one is requesting a decrease of 9.15%, and one is virtually unchanging premiums (0.09% increase).
Participating insurers: Medica Insurance Company, Oscar Insurance Company, WellMark Health Plan of Iowa
Other stuff to know:
Kansas
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Insurers are requesting premium rate increases of an average 8%, ranging from a 1.59% increase to a 15.31% increase.
Participating insurers: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, Cigna, Medica Insurance Company, Oscar Insurance Company
Other stuff to know:
Kentucky
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Kynect
What’s happening to premiums: Anthem’s premiums are decreasing by 13%, while CareSource’s premiums are increasing by 2.5%.
Participating insurers: Anthem Health Plans of Kentucky, CareSource Kentucky, Molina Healthcare of Kentucky, WellCare Health Plans of Kentucky
Other stuff to know: Ambetter (WellCare of Kentucky) and Passport Health Plan (Molina) are joining Kynect for the first time in 2022. For the first time, you’ll also be able to purchase a vision plan, starting January 2022.
Louisiana
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Insurance companies in Louisiana are requesting to increase premiums at an average of 5%, ranging from a 3% increase to an 8.5% increase.
Participating insurers: CHRISTUS Health Plan Louisiana, HMO Louisiana, Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company, Vantage Health Plan
Other stuff to know:
Maine
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: CoverME.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Between the two insurers in Maine, one is requesting to increase premiums by 1.42% and the other is requesting to decrease premiums 4.68%.
Participating insurers: Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Maine Community Health Options
Other stuff to know: In 2021, about 25% of Mainers paid $10 per month or less in health insurance premiums for marketplace plans, thanks to federal assistance from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Maryland
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Maryland Health Connection
What’s happening to premiums: Approved premium changes for individual health insurance plans under the ACA will increase by an average 2.1%. Average rate changes for the lowest cost off-exchange silver plans range from a 11.4% decrease to a 3.2% increase. Average rate changes for the lowest cost gold plan range from a 12.7% decrease to a 6.2% increase.
Participating insurers: CareFirst BlueChoice, CareFirst of Maryland, GHMSI, Kaiser Foundation, Optimum Choice
Other stuff to know:
Massachusetts
Enrollment deadline: January 23, 2022
Marketplace: Massachusetts Health Connector
What’s happening to premiums: Insurers requested rate increases ranging from 5.7% to 14.81%.
Participating insurers: AllWays Health Partners, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Health New England, HPHC Insurance Company, Tufts Associated Health Maintenance, Tufts Public Plans, Tufts Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare
Other stuff to know: Fallon Health is leaving the Massachusetts health care marketplace, but will continue to offer Medicare and Medicaid plans.
Michigan
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: The state approved rate increases ranging from 0.5% to 8.8% percent for some insurers, and rate decreases of 0.3% and 1.8% for other insurers, for an average increase of 4.7% including non-marketplace plans.
Participating insurers: Blue Care Network of Michigan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Mutual Insurance Co., McLaren Health Plan Community, Meridian Health Plan of Michigan, Molina Healthcare of Michigan, Oscar Insurance Co., Physicians Health Plan, Priority Health, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, US Health and Life Insurance Co.
Other stuff to know: UnitedHealthcare Community Plan and US Health and Life Insurance Co. are both new this year
Minnesota
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: MNsure
What’s happening to premiums: Premium rates are going up across the board: approved rate change increases ranged from 4.31% to 11.33%.
Participating insurers: Blue Plus, Group Health (HealthPartners), Medica Insurance Company, PreferredOne Insurance Company, Quartz, UCare
Other stuff to know:
Mississippi
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Insurers requested rate increases from 1.2% to 5.03%.
Participating insurers: Ambetter of Magnolia, Molina Healthcare of Mississippi, Cigna
Other stuff to know: Cigna is joining the Mississippi marketplace for 2022.
Missouri
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Five insurers requested rate increases from 0.77% to 15.46%, and three requested rate decreases from 3.12% to 6.86%.
Participating insurers: Aetna, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Celtic Insurance Company, Cigna Life Insurance Company, Cox Health Systems Insurance Company, Healthy Alliance Life Company (Anthem BCBS), Medica Insurance Company, Oscar Insurance Company, SSM Health Insurance Company
Other stuff to know: Aetna has begun offering Missouri individual marketplace health plans again, after leaving the marketplace in 2016.
Montana
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Montana Health Cooperative requested a 4.5% increase in their rates, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana requested a 3.04% decrease, and PacificSource Health Plans requested a 0.22% decrease.
Participating insurers: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana, Montana Health Cooperative, PacificSource Health Plans
Other stuff to know:
Nebraska
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Bright Health Insurance Company requested a 1.31% increase in rates, and Medica Insurance Company requested a 10.21% increase in rates.
Participating insurers: Bright Health Insurance Company. Medica Insurance Company, Oscar
Other stuff to know: Oscar is new in Nebraska for 2022.
Nevada
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Nevada Health Link
What’s happening to premiums: Health insurance rates will increase by an average of 4.2% in Nevada.
Participating insurers: Aetna, Friday Health Plans of Nevada, Health Plan of Nevada, HMO Colorado (HMO Nevada), Hometown Health Plan, SelectHealth, SilverSummit Healthplan
Other stuff to know: The two new carriers entering Nevada’s health insurance exchange are Aetna and Hometown Health Plan.
New Hampshire
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Two insurers proposed rate increases of 1.52% and 11.28% and Anthem BCBS proposed a rate decrease of 3.59%.
Participating insurers: Celtic Insurance Company, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of NE, Matthew Thornton Health Plan (Anthem BCBS)
Other stuff to know:
New Jersey
Enrollment deadline: January 31, 2022
Marketplace: Get Covered New Jersey
What’s happening to premiums: Amerihealth, Horizon, and Oxford (a non-marketplace plan) received rate increases of 6.0%, 9.5%, and 8.4%, respectively. The average final rate is about 7.9% across the board, including non-marketplace plans.
Participating insurers: AmeriHealth, Horizon Healthcare of New Jersey, Oscar Garden State Insurance Corporation, Oxford Health Insurance, WellCare
Other stuff to know: WellCare will start offering health insurance through Get Covered New Jersey in 2022.
New Mexico
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange (beWellnm)
What’s happening to premiums: Rate change proposals range from a decrease of 4.3% (Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico) to an increase of 17.7% (Molina Healthcare of New Mexico.)
Participating insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Friday Health Plans of Colorado, Molina, True Health New Mexico, Western Sky Community Care
Other stuff to know: This is the first year that New Mexico is using its own state-run exchange (beWellnm) rather than the federal Obamacare marketplace.
New York
Enrollment deadline: January 31, 2022
Marketplace: NY State of Health
What’s happening to premiums: Health insurance premiums for individual health plans are increasing for nearly every insurer on the New York exchange although on average premiums will only go up by about 3.7%, including non-marketplace plans. A handful of insurers are decreasing their premiums.
Participating insurers: CDPHP, Emblem, Excellus, Fidelis, Healthfirst, Healthplus, Highmark Western and Northeastern NY, IHBC, MetroPlus, MVP Health Plan, Oscar, UnitedHealthcare
Other stuff to know: In June, New York added free dental and vision coverage to its state-backed Essential Plan, which offers health insurance for low-income people who don’t qualify for Medicaid.
North Carolina
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Exchange plans in North Carolina saw proposed rate increases of up to 8.23% as well as rate decrease proposals of 6.06%.
Participating insurers: Ambetter, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Bright Health Company, Cigna, Oscar, UnitedHealthcare
Other stuff to know
North Dakota
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: North Dakota’s health insurance premium changes were announced in late October and include a range of changes to individual plans, including an average decrease of 0.60% for Blue Cross Blue Shield, and average increases of 3.30% and 10.43% for insurers Sanford and Medica, respectively.
Participating insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Sanford, Medica
Other stuff to know:
Ohio
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Average individual premiums in Ohio’s health insurance marketplace are expected to increase by about 4.76%
Participating insurers: AultCare, Buckeye Community Health Plan, CareSource Ohio, Community Insurance Company (Anthem BCBS), Medical Health Insurance Corp., Molina Healthcare, Oscar, Paramount, Summa
Other stuff to know:
Oklahoma
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Average proposed rate changes vary from a decrease of 1.80% (Oscar) to an increase of 8.20% (Medica).
Participating insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Bright Health Insurance, CommunityCare HMO, Medica, Oscar, UnitedHealthcare
Other stuff to know:
Oregon
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Health insurance premiums in Oregon are increasing by an average of 1.5%, accounting for decreases in some plans of 0.9% and increases in other plans of 4.9%.
Participating insurers: BridgeSpan, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest, Moda Health Plan, PacificSource, Providence, Regence BlueCross BlueShield
Other stuff to know:
Pennsylvania
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Pennie
What’s happening to premiums: Pennsylvania’s individual marketplace plans will have an average increase of just 0.2%
Participating insurers: Capital Advantage, Keystone Health Plan, First Priority Health HMO, Highmark, Geisinger, QCC Insurance Company, UPMC Health Coverage, PA Health & Wellness, Oscar, Cigna
Other stuff to know: For 2022, 25 counties in Pennsylvania will have at least one new insurer: Cigna.
Rhode Island
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: HealthSource RI
What’s happening to premiums: Both participants of Rhode Island’s individual health insurance marketplace requested small premium increases for 2022, but the approved rate averaged just 2.1%.
Participating insurers: Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Neighborhood Health Plan
Other stuff to know: Rhode Island is one of the few states with an individual mandate, meaning that Rhode Islanders will need to maintain qualifying health coverage or face a tax penalty.
South Carolina
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Insurers requested several rate changes, ranging from a decrease of 7.47% to an increase of 6.43%.
Participating insurers: Absolute Total Care, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Bright Health Company, Molina Healthcare
Other stuff to know:
South Dakota
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: One company has asked for an increase of 0.68% and another has proposed a decrease of 3.81%.
Participating insurers: Avera, Sanford
Other stuff to know: More than 31,000 South Dakotans enrolled in health insurance through the marketplace in 2021.
Tennessee
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Proposed premium changes range from an increase of 8.18% for one company to a decrease of 3.73%.
Participating insurers: BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Bright Health, Celtic, Cigna, Oscar, UnitedHealthcare
Other stuff to know: UnitedHealthcare is re-entering the Tennessee marketplace after leaving in 2016.
Texas
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Proposed premium changes range from an increase of 12.04% to a decrease of 8.59%.
Participating insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Celtic, CHRISTUS Health Plan, Community Health Choice, Friday Health Insurance Company, Molina Healthcare of Texas, Oscar, Scott and White Health Plan, Sendero Health Plans, FirstCare Health Plans
Other stuff to know: Texas is one of 12 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
Utah
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Proposed changes range from an increase of 8.15% to a decrease of 4.59%
Participating insurers: BridgeSpan Health Company, Cigna, Molina Healthcare of Utah, SelectHealth, University of Utah Health Insurance Plans
Other stuff to know: 207,911 people signed up for Obamacare plans during open enrollment for 2021 plans.
Vermont
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Vermont Health Connect
What’s happening to premiums: Premium changes range from a decrease of 9.9% to an increase of 16.3%.
Participating insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, MVP Health Plan
Other stuff to know: Despite the increases, premium tax credits should reduce costs for the average person.
Virginia
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Changes range from a decrease of 14.9% to an increase of 3%, with an average decrease across the board of 7.45%.
Participating insurers: Aetna, Bright Health Insurance, CareFirst BlueChoice, Cigna, Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, HealthKeepers, Innovation Health Plan, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Optima Health Plan, Optimum Choice, Oscar, and Piedmont Community HealthCare
Other stuff to know: Aetna, Bright Health Insurance, and Innovation Health Plan are new to the marketplace for 2022.
Washington
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Washington Healthplanfinder
What’s happening to premiums: Premiums are increasing by an average of 4.17%.
Participating insurers: Bridgespan Health Company, Community Health Network of Washington, Coordinated Care Corporation, Kaiser Foundation, LifeWise Health Plan of Washington, Molina Healthcare of Washington, PacificSource Health Plans, Premera Blue Cross, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, Regence BlueShield, United Healthcare of Oregon
Other stuff to know: In 2021, Washington began offering Cascade Care, which creates both standard health insurance plans as well as public option plans, some of the first in the nation.
West Virginia
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Proposed changes range from increases of 11.64% to 14.89%.
Participating insurers: CareSource, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Other stuff to know: West Virginia is partially offsetting the premium increases by “silver loading,” a wonky move to put most of the increases on the most subsidized group of health plans.
Wisconsin
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Wisconsin’s approved health insurance rates for 2022 have decreased by average of 0.3% across the board.
Participating insurers: Aspirus Health Plan, Children’s Community Health Plan, Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative, Compcare Health Serv, Dean Health Plan, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, HealthPartners, Medica Community Health Plan, MercyCare, Molina Healthcare, Network Health Plan, Quartz Health Benefit Plans Corporation, Security Health Plan, Wisconsin Physicians Svc, WPS Health Plan
Other stuff to know: Five additional companies have joined Wisconsin’s health insurance marketplace to offer coverage for 2022.
Wyoming
Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2022
Marketplace: Healthcare.gov
What’s happening to premiums: Insurers propose decreases ranging from 2.22% to 5.98%
Participating insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming, Montana Health Cooperative
Other stuff to know: Almost 91% of exchange enrollees receive a premium subsidy.
Finding a health care plan for 2022
If your state health insurance marketplace has closed and you're not eligible for Medicaid or Medicare, the federal health insurance program for citizens and permanent residents at retirement age, you will need to qualify for a special enrollment period to buy an Obamacare plan.
You generally qualify for special enrollment after:
The loss other health coverage
Marriage
Divorce
The birth of a baby
The adoption a child
Moving across state lines
Gaining Citizenship or "lawful presence in the U.S."
Leaving incarceration
If you qualify for special enrollment, check out our guide to shopping the health insurance exchanges.
Health insurance alternatives
If you don't qualify for special enrollment and need health insurance or can't find an affordable plan in your area, there are a few ways to get at least some level of coverage. These include:
COBRA or The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which lets you keep a health care plan from an ex-employer for up to 36 months, at the full cost of the policy. Learn more about COBRA.
Short-term health insurance, which is cheaper, but much less comprehensive than traditional coverage. These plans don't have to cover pre-existing conditions or Obamacare's essential benefits.
Health care sharing ministries are faith-based alternatives to health insurance in which individuals and families pay a monthly “sharing amount” similar to a health insurance premium and use those funds to cover ministry-approved medical expenses.
Health insurance and life insurance work together to offer financial protection.
Health insurance can pay your medical expenses. Life insurance keeps your loved ones whole after you die.
Health Insurance
Elissa Suh
Personal Finance Editor
Derek Silva
Personal Finance Expert