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

Late last year, Johnson, a former health insurance agent, tried to break back into the field by applying for a job during open enrollment season. —Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2025

People who received benefits from DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, began signing up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, at the start of open enrollment on Nov. 1. —Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 10 Dec. 2024

Life and disability insurance During open enrollment, employees may also be presented with different disability and life insurance options, which are often included in a standard benefits package. —Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2024

The new year will usher in new changes to Medicare, which means beneficiaries may want to do some careful research during this open enrollment season. —Lorie Konish, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 2