2020 State by State Guide to Health Insurance Enrollment

As we head into the 2020 health insurance open enrollment season, we wanted to provide you with a one-stop-shop resource to find important dates and marketplace information in an easy-to-find, state-by-state guide.

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), approximately 11.4 million consumers selected or were automatically re-enrolled in an Exchange plan during the 2020 open enrollment period in the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia (D.C.).

The open enrollment period for Americans seeking a 2021 healthcare plan runs from November 1, 2020, to December 15, 2020. That deadline can vary by state, so be sure to check for your state below to see open enrollment details in your state.

Open enrollment is for people who are looking to buy or change their individual health plan. If your employer provides your health insurance, be sure to ask your human resources department when your open enrollment period will take place as it can vary.

According to CMS, average premiums for benchmark Affordable Care Act plans dropped 2% for the 2021 plan year. The third year that premiums for Healthcare.gov plans have decreased, following years of volatility in the market.

Guide to 2020 the Health Insurance Marketplace

Alabama

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Alabama expects premiums will increase in 2021 by about five percent. The range of rate changes is expected to increase from two to 5.5 percent.

• Marketplace insurers: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama (Bright Health is not participating in the Obamacare marketplace anymore.

Alaska

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Insurers in Alaska have requested to decrease premiums by 4.15 percent or increase them by 0.11 percent.

• Marketplace insurers: Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska and Moda Assurance Company.

Arizona

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Arizona’s proposed premium changes range from a decrease of 6.75 percent to an increase of 9.33 percent.

• Marketplace insurers: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona, Bright Health Company of Arizona, Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Health Net of Arizona, Oscar Health Plan

Arkansas

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Across the board, Arizona health insurance premiums are expected to rise. The increases range from 2.90% to 4.91%.

• Marketplace insurers: Celtic Insurance Company, QCA Health Plan, QualChoice Life & Health Insurance Company, USAble Mutual Insurance Company.

California

• Open Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2021 

• Marketplace: Covered California

• Premiums: Premiums will rise by an average of %0.6 (Record-Low Rate Change for the Second Consecutive Year)

• Marketplace insurers: Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Chinese Community Health Plan, Kaiser Permanente, LA Care Health Plan, Molina Healthcare, Oscar Health Plan of California, Sharp Health Plan, Valley Health Plan, Western Health Advantage

Colorado

• Open Enrollment deadline: January 1, 2021

• Marketplace: Connect for Health Colorado

• Premiums: Premium increases will average 2.2 percent statewide. 

• Marketplace insurers: Anthem, Bright Health, Cigna, Denver Health Medical Plan, Friday Health Plans, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado, Oscar Health Plan, Rocky Mountain Health Maintenance Organization.

Connecticut 

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: Access Health CT

• Premiums: Connecticut premiums will stay practically the same, with a tiny 0.01 percent increase. 

• Marketplace insurers: Anthem Health Plans, CTCare Benefits 

Delaware

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Premiums will decrease by one percent on average in the First State. The premiums have fallen by an average of 19 percent since 2019 because of a federal reinsurance program. This program led to a 6.3 percent increase in Obamacare enrollment.

• Marketplace insurers: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware

Florida

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Regulators say insurance premiums will rise about 3 percent ranging from an increase of 4.8 percent to a decrease of 3.3 percent, depending on the insurer.

• Marketplace insurers: AvMed, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Bright Health, Celtic Insurance Company, Cigna, Florida Health Care Plan, Health First Commercial Plans, Health Options, Molina Healthcare of Florida, Oscar Insurance Company

Georgia

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Insurers in Georgia have requested many rate changes, including a decrease of 19 percent for one insurer and an increase of 18 percent by another. The state of Georgia is currently seeking to dismantle its ACA healthcare marketplace.

• Marketplace insurers: Alliant, Ambetter of Peach State, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, CareSource Georgia (new for 2020), Kaiser Foundation, Oscar Health Plan (new for 2020).

Hawaii

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Hawaii insurers are proposing a small decrease in rates, from 0.78 percent decrease to a 1.91% decrease.

• Marketplace insurers: Hawaii Medical Service Association, Kaiser Foundation.

Idaho

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: Your Health Idaho

• Premiums: Iowa marketplace health plan premiums will increase by a statewide average of 1 percent.

• Marketplace insurers: Blue Cross of Idaho Health Service, Mountain Health Co-Op, PacificSource Health Plans, Regence BlueShield of Idaho, SelectHealth

Illinois

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace:  Get Covered Illinois (in partnership with healthcare.gov)

• Premiums: Most Illinois consumers will see a decrease in ACA health insurance rates. 

• Marketplace insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Celtic Insurance Company, Cigna, Health Alliance Medical Plans, Quartz Health Benefit Plans. Bright Health will offer marketplace coverage in Chicago starting in 2021.

Indiana

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Indiana ACA insurers are requesting a premium rate increase of an average of 10.5 percent for marketplace plans. The increased proposals range from a 0.30 percent decrease to a 14.30 percent increase.

• Marketplace insurers: Anthem, CareSource Indiana, Celtic Insurance Company.

Iowa

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: There are two insurers that offer marketplace plans in Iowa, and they are both proposing very different changes. One is requesting an increase of 2.45 percent; the other is requesting a 42 percent decrease. On average, officials expect the premiums will fall 2 percent.

• Marketplace insurers: Medica Insurance Company and WellMark Health Plan of Iowa

Kansas

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Requested rate changes range from a 7.86 percent decrease to a 9.96 percent increase. According to CCM data, nearly 86,000 people in Kansas enrolled in coverage for 2020 during the open enrollment period last year. That was down some from the almost 90,000 people who had enrolled the year before in Kansas.

• Marketplace insurers: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, Cigna, Medica Insurance Company, Oscar Insurance Company, Sunflower State Health Plan

Kentucky 

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Kentucky’s exchange insurers have proposed an average rate increase of 11 percent.

• Marketplace insurers: Anthem Health Plans of Kentucky, CareSource Kentucky.

Louisiana

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Increased rates have been requested across the board. Proposals range from a 2.64 percent increase to a 9.50 percent increase.

• Marketplace insurers: CHRISTUS Health Plan Louisiana, HMO Louisiana, Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company, Vantage Health Plan

Maine

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Rates in Maine are expected to decrease by a 13.1 percent average. The health insurance rates submitted by Anthem Health Plans of Maine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and Maine Community Health Options range from a decrease of 26.5 percent to a decline of 4.3 percent, depending on the plan.

• Marketplace insurers: Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Maine Community Health Options. 

Maryland

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020, Maryland’s COVID-19 special enrollment period, which began in March, will remain open until December 15, 2020, as well.

• Marketplace: Maryland Health Connection

• Premiums: Premiums are expected to decrease by an 11.9 percent average. This is the

   third consecutive year that Maryland will experience a double-digit decrease for ACA premiums. The state attributes the reduction to state programs that provide reinsurance payments to health insurers to help offset high-cost medical claims.

• Marketplace insurers: CareFirst BlueChoice, CareFirst of Maryland, GHMSI, Kaiser Foundation, UnitedHealthcare (new for 2020)

Massachusetts

• Open Enrollment deadline: January 23, 2021

• Marketplace: Massachusetts Health Connector

• Premiums: Premiums across Massachusetts will increase by nearly 8 percent. 

• Marketplace insurers: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts HMO Blue, Fallon Community Health Plan, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Health New England, Tufts Associated Health Maintenance Org, UnitedHealthcare

Michigan 

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Marketplace insurers in Michigan are proposing premium changes that range from a two recent decrease to a nearly 6 percent increase.

• Marketplace insurers: Blue Care Network of Michigan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, McLaren, Meridian Health Plan of Michigan, Molina Healthcare of Michigan, Oscar Insurance Company, Physicians Health Plan, Priority Health, Total Health Care USA

Minnesota 

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 22, 2020

• Marketplace: MNsure

• Premiums: Proposed premium changes in Minnesota range from a decrease of 1.39 percent to an increase of 7.12 percent.

• Marketplace insurers: Blue Plus, Group Health (Health Partners), Medica Insurance Company, UCare

Mississippi

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Ambetter has proposed a rate increase of 11.19% and Molina has proposed a decrease of 2.67%.

• Marketplace insurers: Ambetter of Magnolia, Molina (Molina has expanded coverage to all Mississippi counties for the first time).

Missouri

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Missouri insurers have proposed rate changes that range from a 2.79 percent decrease to a nearly 14 percent increase. The average shift that Missourians will see is about 5 percent.

• Marketplace insurers: Cigna, Celtic, Cox Health Systems, Healthy Alliance (Anthem), Medica Insurance Company, Oscar, SSM Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield Kansas City (new for 2020).

Montana

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Montana ACA health plan premiums will see an average increase of 1.89 percent across all three health plans.

• Marketplace insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, Montana Health Co-op, PacificSource

Nebraska 

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: The state’s sole ACA insurance provider, Medica proposed an increase of 5.36 percent.

• Marketplace insurers: Medica 

Nevada

• Open Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2021

• Marketplace: Nevada Health Link

• Premiums: Nevada insurers have proposed rate increases that range from 4.31 percent to 10.44 percent. There are 50 plans on the exchange, nearly twice as many as last year. This is the second year that Nevada has operated its own exchange under the Affordable Care Act

• Marketplace insurers: Health Plan of Nevada, HMO Nevada (HMO Colorado), SilverSummit HealthPlan, Select Health, Friday Health Plans.

New Hampshire 

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Existing insurers in New Hampshire have proposed decreases that range from 4.50 percent to 15.37 percent. New Hampshire is one of four states that will see double-digit drops.

• Marketplace isnsurers: Celtic (Ambetter), Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Matthew Thornton Health Plan (Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield)

New Jersey

• Open Enrollment deadline: January 31, 2021

• Marketplace: Get Covered New Jersey

• Premiums: New Jersey insurers have proposed rate changes that range from a 1.43 percent decrease to an increase of 11.22 percent.

• Marketplace insurers: AmeriHealth, Horizon Healthcare (Blue Cross Blue Shield), Oscar.

New Mexico  

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: New Mexico insurers have proposed decreases of 0.18% to 7.61%.

• Marketplace insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Molina Healthcare, True Health.  

New York

• Open Enrollment deadline: January 31, 2021

• Marketplace: New York State of Health

• Premiums: The approved average rate increase for 2021 individual marketplace plans is 1.8 percent across all insurers. This is the smallest rate change ever approved.

• Marketplace insurers: CDPHP, Emblem, Empire (Health Plus), Excellus, Healthfirst, HealthNow New York, IHBC, MetroPlus, MVP Health, Fidelis (New York Quality Health Care), Oscar, UnitedHealthcare. With 12 insurers, New York’s exchange is one of the strongest in the country. 

North Carolina

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Proposed rate changes range from a decrease of 14.32% to an increase of 4.13%.

• Marketplace insurers: Ambetter, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Bright, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Oscar (new for 2020).

North Dakota

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: North Dakota insurers have requested increases ranging from 4.42 percent to 20.33 percent.

• Marketplace insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medica, Sanford

Ohio

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Marketplace insurers: AultCare, Buckeye Community Health Plan (Ambetter), CareSource, Community Insurance Company (Anthem BCBS), Medical Health Insuring Corporation of Ohio, Molina Healthcare of Ohio, Oscar Buckeye State Insurance Corporation, Oscar Insurance Corporation of Ohio, Paramount Insurance Company, Summa Insurance Company

Oklahoma

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Three out of the four participating insurers have proposed decreasing rates – by as much as -24.40 percent. One insurer has proposed a rate increase of 1.84 percent.

• Marketplace insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma, Bright Health Insurance Company, CommunityCare HMO, Medica Insurance Company

Oregon

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Oregonians can expect to see only a slight average premium increase. But, BridgeSpan will increase its average rates by 11 percent. Kaiser will decrease its average rates by 3.5 percent.

• Marketplace insurers: BridgeSpan Health Company, Kaiser Foundation Healthplan of the N.W., Moda Health Plan, PacificSource Health Plans, Providence Health Plan, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon

Pennsylvania

• Open Enrollment deadline: January 15, 2021 

• Marketplace: Pennie (new for 2020)

• Premiums: Most Pennsylvania insurers plan to lower rates for 2021 marketplace plans — by as much as 12.41 percent in one case — but some insurers will increase rates by as much as 6.35 percent. 

• Marketplace insurers: Capital Advantage Assurance Company, Geisinger Health Plan, Geisinger Quality Options, Highmark Benefits Group, Highmark Coverage Advantage, Highmark, Inc., Independence Blue Cross (QCC Insurance Company), Keystone Health Plan East, Oscar Health, Pennsylvania Health & Wellness, UPMC Health Options.

Rhode Island

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: HealthSource RI

• Premiums: Both of Rhode Island’s participating insurers will increase premiums. Rates for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island rising by 3.3%, and rates for Health Plan of Rhode Island rising by 4.7%.

• Marketplace insurers: Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island

South Carolina 

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Three of the four insurers in South Carolina have proposed slightly lower premiums than last year, though Absolute Total Care has proposed an average rate increase of 16.68%.

• Marketplace insurers: Absolute Total Care, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina, Bright Health Company of South Carolina, Molina

South Dakota

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: South Dakota’s two marketplace insurers are proposing increases. Avera has proposed a 4.29 percent increase, and Sanford has proposed an increase of 0.24 percent. 

• Marketplace insurers: Avera and Sanford

Tennessee

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: All five of last year’s participating insurers are proposing rate increases of between 2.5 and 9.9 percent. 

• Marketplace insurers: BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Bright Health, Celtic/Ambetter, Cigna, Oscar Health, UnitedHealthcare

Texas

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Every Texas marketplace insurer has proposed a rate increase. The increases range between 2.81 percent and 11.69 percent.

• Marketplace insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Celtic/Ambetter, CHRISTUS, Community Health Choice, Molina Healthcare of Texas, Oscar Health, Sendero, SHA/FirstCare

Utah

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: The four returning insurers will make modest changes to last year’s rates, ranging from an increase of 3 percent to a decrease of 1.64 percent.

• Marketplace insurers: Cigna, Molina, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah, SelectHealth, University of Utah Health Insurance Plans

Vermont

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: Vermont Health Connect

• Premiums: Vermont has approved an average premium increase of about 4.2 percent across plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield and an average increase of about 2.7 percent across MVP plans.

• Marketplace insurers: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, MVP Health Care

Virginia 

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Four of this year’s seven insurers have proposed rate decreases — two of which are more than 10 percent— and the other three insurers have proposed average rate increases of as much as 7.81 percent. Overall, the average proposed rates will be 6.9 percent less than last year.

• Marketplace insurers: CareFirst, Group Hospitalization, and Medical Services, Health Keepers, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic, Optima, Oscar Health, Piedmont Community Healthcare

Washington

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: Washington Healthplanfinder

• Premiums: Premiums for exchange plans will decrease by an average of 3.2% over last year. Average rates have now reduced by 3% or more for two straight years.

• Marketplace insurers: Bridgespan, Community Health Network of Washington, Coordinated Care Corp., Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington, LifeWise Health Plan of Washington, Molina Healthcare of Washington, PacificSource Health Plans, Premera Blue Cross, Providence Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare of Oregon

Washington, D.C.

• Open Enrollment deadline: January 21, 2021

• Marketplace: D.C. Health Link

• Premiums : Insurers have proposed to raise premiums for HMO plans by 14 percent, but they have requested to decrease premiums for PPO plans by between 0.6 and 2.0 percent.

• Marketplace insurers: CareFirst BlueChoice, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan

West Virginia 

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Both of West Virginia’s insurers have proposed increasing premiums: CareSource by an average of 6.26 percent across all plans and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield by 4.34 percent. 

• Marketplace insurers: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, CareSource

Wisconsin

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Nine of the 13 insurers with an exchange plan for 2021 have proposed a decrease in premiums, with two insurers proposing decreases of more than 12%. Of the four insurers who have proposed higher premiums, the highest is an increase of 5.87%, compared to last year’s rates.

• Marketplace insurers: Aspirus Arise, Children’s Community Health Plan, Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative, Dean Health Plan, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, HealthPartners Insurance, Medica Health Plans of Wisconsin, MercyCare HMO, Molina, Network Health, Quartz Health Benefits, Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, WPS.

Wyoming 

• Open Enrollment deadline: December 15, 2020

• Marketplace: healthcare.gov

• Premiums: Insurers with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming are proposing a 9.99 percent decrease in the premiums’ average cost.

• Marketplace insurer: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming

For further guidance and resources on healthcare, which health plan to choose, and open enrollment, click here. PolicyScout provides information on types of health insurance plans, information on HSAs, FSAs, and HRAs, and health insurance cost, all in one easy-to-find location.