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

Little information was available on just how many of the more than 125,000 local Anthem beneficiaries stayed with the carrier, hoping for a quick resolution and how many decided to choose a different carrier during the annual open enrollment period, which usually occurs in the fall. —Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2025

The Trump administration is proposing to shorten ObamaCare’s annual open enrollment period by a month, a move the administration said is aimed at helping consumers pick the right plan. —Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 10 Mar. 2025

Medicare’s annual open enrollment period for health plans and prescription drug coverage runs until Dec. 7. —Lorie Konish, CNBC, 3 Dec. 2024

Justin Sullivan | Getty Images In some cases, beneficiaries may still be able to make changes after the official Dec. 7 end of Medicare open enrollment. —Lorie Konish, CNBC, 3 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 2