This is the yearly period in the fall when people can enroll in a health insurance plan for the next calendar year. In most states the open enrollment period (OEP) goes from November 1 until January 15. Outside of this period one is not able to enroll in a health plan unless they undergo a qualifying event.
A qualifying life event will make someone eligible to purchase a new health plan on the marketplace. Examples of changes in situation which are considered as qualifying life event (QLE) are loss of health coverage, changes in household such as getting married or divorced or having a child or a death in the family, and changes in residence. Some other less common qualifying events are changes in your income that affect the coverage you qualify for, becoming a U.S. citizen, and leaving incarceration.