Can I get a plan that starts right away?

If you are applying for a health plan during Open Enrollment, the soonest your coverage will start is January 1st, 2022.

Open Enrollment is the only time of year that you can apply for health insurance without a special qualifying life event. Make sure to submit your application before December 15th, 2021 to secure coverage starting January 1st, 2022. 

• In most states, the open enrollment period runs from November 1st to January 15th. 

There are a few exceptions to this rule: 

1. You may apply for coverage sooner if you have a special qualifying life event such as losing job based coverage.. If you have experienced a qualifying life event, you may be able to enroll in coverage starting as early as December 1st.

• To apply for a plan starting Dec 1st on Stride, you must have a qualifying life event and you must live in a state that uses the federally facilitated marketplace, Healthcare.gov. If you live in a state that operates its own insurance marketplace, you must apply for a plan starting Dec 1st directly through the state's website. 
• You can see the full list of qualifying events here -> How can I get coverage outside of open enrollment?