Open enrollment for those without health coverage and those seeking to improve upon their existing coverage is October 1st. Unfortunately the implementation may not be ready for prime time because of the readiness of the Federal exchange. Some concerns to be aware of are; there are a limited number of carriers offering plans on the exchange and those plans will have a limited network of providers and hospitals. Individuals with pre-existing conditions or those presently without coverage can purchase a health plan both on and off the exchange. Open enrollment runs from October 1 to March 31, 2014 and selected on the exchange in 2013 will be issued January 2014. To avoid frustration I would not try to get on the website soon after October 1 as it will be inundated with attempts which can cause frustration. If there is a question you'd like answered contact me at bob.smith@insphereis.com