open enrollment

noun

1

a

chiefly US : the voluntary enrollment of a student in a public school other than the one assigned on the basis of residence

Carnegie Vanguard High would continue to offer open enrollment to students from across the district and would still likely offer transportation to all its students.

—Shelby Webb

b

chiefly US : enrollment on demand as a student in an institution of higher learning irrespective of formal qualifications

Open enrollment, long the hallmark of the community college, may soon be a thing of the past.

—Rick Diguette

2

chiefly US : a period of time during which someone can join something (such as a health insurance plan) as a member or participant : a period of time during which a person can enroll in something

Just one in four people who buy their own insurance or who are uninsured could name the correct deadline (December 15) for open enrollment, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll taken last month.

—Dylan Scott

Examples of open enrollment in a Sentence

Many voters support open enrollment.

the city's open enrollment policy

Employees can sign up for new benefits during open enrollment.

Recent Examples on the Web

Workers will find out more details about their 2026 health care coverage during open enrollment, which typically happens in the fall. —Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025

Some insurers also mentioned a new federal rule that will shorten the annual open enrollment period for exchange plans. —Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025

Shop carefully during open enrollment, and consider a plan with a higher deductible to help control costs. —Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025

John Havlicek, Spanish teacher at Central High School in La Crosse, said Wisconsin's educational funding system has turned into a competition for districts to recruit students from neighboring districts to raise revenue for themselves through open enrollment. —Mia Thurow, jsonline.com, 13 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 2