---
title: What happens if an employee misses the deadline to enroll in benefits?
description: Learn what happens if employees miss benefits enrollment deadlines and how employers can effectively communicate and manage these situations.
image: https://insights.bukaty.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_1040677133.jpg
---

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![What happens if an employee misses the deadline to enroll in benefits](https://insights.bukaty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AdobeStock_1040677133.jpg?width=600&height=400&name=AdobeStock_1040677133.jpg "What happens if an employee misses the deadline to enroll in benefits")

# What happens if an employee misses the deadline to enroll in benefits?

Authored by  Bukaty Companies on Oct 28, 2026, 10:02:08 AM

**A:** Employees who miss their benefits enrollment deadline typically must wait until the next open enrollment period to enroll in or make changes to their health plan coverage. 

Certain qualifying [life events](https://insights.bukaty.com/hr-matters/6-life-events-that-trigger-a-special-enrollment?utm_campaign=Quick%20Q%26A&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8roeUlmqDguZWvAaUxJXPxEbN3KpiPzH57xJCyEXWbAtk2br7XoMCYPJ2pNwiYUdPKkU1h) may allow employees to enroll outside the regular enrollment window. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), eligible employees and dependents may have special enrollment rights following certain life events, including marriage, birth, adoption or loss of other health coverage. Employees generally have 30 days to request special enrollment after a qualifying event, or 60 days for certain Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) events. Other benefits may follow different enrollment rules.

**What can employers do?** Communicate enrollment deadlines clearly and establish a process for addressing missed elections. If an employee misses a deadline, review the applicable plan terms and enrollment rules to determine whether an exception or special enrollment right applies before denying the request.

The best line of defense against missed enrollment periods is effective and timely communication. [Employee Navigator](https://insights.bukaty.com/hubfs/Bukaty%20Companies%20Advantage%20with%20Employee%20Navigator_2026%20(1).pdf?utm_campaign=Quick%20Q&A&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8roeUlmqDguZWvAaUxJXPxEbN3KpiPzH57xJCyEXWbAtk2br7XoMCYPJ2pNwiYUdPKkU1h) can help streamline the process by sending automated reminder emails to employees who have not completed their new-hire, newly eligible or open enrollment elections. [Contact](mailto:mmiller@bukaty.com)our in-house Employee Navigator experts to learn more.

 

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