Lately, our office has been fielding a lot of calls about open enrollment for individual and family plans – how it works, when it expires, and when people can (and cannot) apply for coverage. The following is an excellent post from our general agency, Warner Pacific, outlining all the relevant dates and issues pertaining to open enrollment:

Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment is a designated period of time each year during which insured individuals or employees can make changes in health insurance coverage. Open enrollment for the Exchanges begins October 1, 2013, and ends March 31, 2014. During that time, individuals may begin their Exchange application and start shopping for health insurance plans. Coverage will not begin until the first payment is made, however. For individuals who enroll in an Exchange plan and pay their first premium by December 15, 2013, coverage will begin January 1, 2014.
Individuals whose current coverage ends before March 31, 2014, can use the Exchange starting on October 1, 2013, to replace their individual insurance. After March 31, 2014, individuals can get new private health insurance through the Exchange for 2014 only if they experience a qualifying life event. Individuals who have a life-changing event — such as the loss of a job, marriage, divorce, death of a spouse or birth of a child — would be eligible for special enrollment within 60 days of the event.
IMPORTANT: Individuals who do not enroll during the open enrollment period may not be able to find a health plan that will cover them — either through Covered California or in the private market — until the next open enrollment period begins in October 2014 for coverage in 2015.
For 2015 and later years, the Open Enrollment period is October 15 to December 7 of the previous year.
NEW! CMS has provided additional guidance regarding enrollment in Federally facilitated Marketplaces after open enrollment closes on March 31:
HCR HHS 3.26.14 Guidance for Issuers on Special Enrollment Periods for Complex Cases in the FFM after Open Enrollment
HCR HHS 3.26.14 Guidance of Issuers People In Line For Marketplace End Initial OE Period