Whether you’re among the 53.5% of Americans who get their health insurance through work, the 20.1% enrolled in Medicare, or the 10.5% purchasing ACA coverage, mid-October or early November typically marks the start of the open enrollment period for next year’s insurance coverage.

Life would be easier if your health insurance coverage stayed the same if you liked it or adapted to your life automatically if you didn’t. Unfortunately, we mere mortals have to make decisions about our upcoming healthcare plan each year, in part because employers and other providers make regular changes to their insurance offerings—in addition to any legal changes that might affect federal benefits and ACA coverage.

The good news is that employers, Medicare providers, and the ACA marketplace typically time their open enrollment period to coincide, giving you November to make decisions about next year’s benefits.

But just because you know when to expect open enrollment season—who can miss all the open enrollment carols on the radio?—doesn’t mean you’re prepared for the important decisions you need to make. In fact, there are several common mistakes that could cost you big bucks in 2027 if you don’t know how to avoid them.

Here’s what you need to know about the most common open enrollment pitfalls.

We all know how fast the fourth quarter tends to go. One minute you’re passing out candy to adorable Spidermen/Gwens and the next you’re eating Christmas cookies while making resolutions for 2027. The open enrollment deadline can get lost in the holiday shuffle.

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