Getting ready to choose your 2026 health plan benefits but feeling overwhelmed by the options? Watch these 7 tips to help. What is Open Enrollment? When is Open Enrollment? An open enrollment period is a window of time that happens once a year — typically in the fall — when you can sign up for health insurance, adjust your current plan or cancel your plan. It’s usually limited to a few weeks. If you miss it, you may have to wait until the next open enrollment period to make any changes. If you get health insurance through your job, through Medicare, or through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, you will have an open enrollment period.