You don’t have to choose a plan that your company offers. If you’d like to purchase insurance that your employer does not offer, you may have to pay higher premiums. If you miss Open Enrollment, there may be certain qualifying life events that allow you to enroll outside of your approved enrollment window, like getting married, getting divorced, or gaining a dependent. Without a qualifying life event, you will have to wait until next year’s Open Enrollment period to apply for insurance if you miss this year’s deadline.