It is is going to be like Medicare where you have specified enrollment periods. Enroll Oct 15 - Dec 7 for the next year. The rest of the year you are out of luck.
I believe they are going to end up waiving the limited open enrollment periods because the system is going to be so starved for subscribers. Even as of now the state exchanges have the option to create additional open enrollment periods. The real problem for many is going to be the rule that prevents you from enrolling outside of an open enrollment period unless some qualifying event occurs (loss of job & insurance, etc.). I did not know about that rule until right now. If they actually enforce all this stuff they are going to end up with 3 or 4 subscribers.
I do know the first open enrollment period is going to be October 2013 through March 2014. Then it is going to be just October through December.
Got a link for that?
http://www.healthpocket.com/affordable-care-act/open-enrollment-period#.Udgewju1EWY