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
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
Rick Diguette2
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
Dylan ScottExamples 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
Tens of millions of seniors have recently wrapped up Medicare’s open enrollment period, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is touting premium stability in the Medicare Advantage (MA) program.
—Donna Shalala, STAT, 5 Feb. 2026
The open enrollment period for organizations to apply ends on May 13.
—Lillian Vest, San Antonio Express-News, 3 Feb. 2026
Covered California’s open enrollment period ends Saturday, a deadline that will determine not only who gets insured this year but what that insurance actually delivers once the card is in someone’s wallet.
—Cathie Anderson, Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Open season on open enrollment The federal government is on the hook for tuition aid lost to scammers.
—ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for open enrollment
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Donna Shalala, STAT, 5 Feb. 2026
The open enrollment period for organizations to apply ends on May 13.
—Lillian Vest, San Antonio Express-News, 3 Feb. 2026
Covered California’s open enrollment period ends Saturday, a deadline that will determine not only who gets insured this year but what that insurance actually delivers once the card is in someone’s wallet.
—Cathie Anderson, Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Open season on open enrollment The federal government is on the hook for tuition aid lost to scammers.
—ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for open enrollment
Cite this Entry
“Open enrollment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open%20enrollment. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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