ACA open enrollment for 2027 coverage starts November 1, 2026, in most states and runs through January 15, 2027. If you want your new plan to begin on January 1, you need to pick it by December 15. This year comes with more changes than usual: full-price premiums are rising about 15% at the median, the out-of-pocket cap jumps to $12,000, some insurers are leaving, and new identity checks could slow you down if you use a broker. Here is what is changing and how to shop without getting caught off guard.
Key Dates for 2027 Open Enrollment
According to HealthCare.gov, the federal Marketplace calendar looks like this:
- November 1, 2026: Open enrollment opens. You can enroll, renew, or switch plans for 2027.
- December 15, 2026: Last day to choose a plan for coverage that starts January 1.
- January 1, 2027: Coverage starts for people who enrolled by December 15 and paid their first premium.
- January 15, 2027: Open enrollment ends in most states.
- February 1, 2027: Coverage starts for people who enrolled between December 16 and January 15.
After January 15, you can generally only sign up or change plans if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, which is triggered by life events such as moving, losing other coverage, getting married, or having a baby. Medicaid and CHIP applications are accepted year-round.
States With Different Deadlines
Some states run their own exchanges and set their own schedules. Based on healthinsurance.org’s state-by-state list:
- Started early: Idaho (October 15, ending December 15), Connecticut (October 23), and Massachusetts (October 23, ending January 23, 2027).
- Runs to January 31, 2027: California, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island.
- Virginia: November 1, 2026, through January 29, 2027.
Oregon is also switching platforms. Starting this fall, Oregon residents use the state-run Explore Health Marketplace instead of HealthCare.gov for 2027 coverage.
What’s Changing for 2027
Premiums Are Rising Again
Insurers proposed a median premium increase of 15% for 2027, according to a KFF analysis of 276 insurers’ filings across all 50 states and D.C. That is the second straight year of double-digit increases. KFF reports that insurers point to higher costs for health services, general inflation, and labor shortages, along with the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits at the end of 2025.
The increases vary a lot by state. Healthinsurance.org reports weighted average proposed increases ranging from under 7% in Vermont, Iowa, and Utah to 29% in Arizona.
Subsidies Rise Too, But Not for Everyone
Here is the part that softens the blow for many people. Premium subsidies are tied to the cost of the benchmark plan, which is the second-lowest-cost Silver plan in your area. When that plan gets more expensive, the subsidy grows with it. Healthinsurance.org notes that 87% of Marketplace enrollees were receiving subsidies at the start of 2026.
The catch is that other plans won’t necessarily rise by the same amount as the benchmark, so your after-subsidy price can still change. And people who don’t qualify for a subsidy, including everyone who buys off-exchange, pay the full increase. Since the enhanced subsidies expired, households earning more than 400% of the federal poverty level get no subsidy at all. KFF Health News puts that cutoff at $63,840 for a single person, $86,560 for a couple, and $109,280 for a family of three during this enrollment season.
The Out-of-Pocket Maximum Goes Up to $12,000
The most an ACA plan can make you pay in deductibles, copays, and coinsurance for in-network care in 2027 is $12,000 for an individual and $24,000 for a family, up from $10,600 and $21,200 in 2026. Many plans set their caps well below the federal limit, but any plan can raise its cap as long as it stays under it. Check your plan’s 2027 deductible and out-of-pocket maximum, not just the monthly premium.
Insurers Are Leaving Some Markets
Insurers are exiting the Marketplace in more than 20 states for 2027, and healthinsurance.org says hundreds of thousands of enrollees have plans ending at the end of 2026. KFF Health News reports that several insurers, including Cigna, have dropped all or part of their ACA coverage areas. If your plan is ending, the Marketplace may automatically move you into a replacement plan chosen by an algorithm. You are usually better off picking the replacement yourself.
New Identity Checks If You Use a Broker
New fraud-prevention rules apply to people who enroll through an agent or broker on the federal Marketplace, which serves 29 states. According to KFF Health News, you’ll need a one-time code or link, sent by text, email, or automated call, to authorize a specific agent to enroll you or make changes. People flagged as “high-risk,” such as first-time applicants, people moving to a new state, people switching agents, or anyone with a monthly premium of $30 or less, must also verify their identity through a CMS-approved third party such as Experian.
A moratorium also blocks agents who weren’t registered with the federal Marketplace in 2026 from helping with 2027 enrollment until February at the earliest, so there may be fewer brokers available. If you rely on one, book an appointment early. Make sure your contact information on your HealthCare.gov account is current so the verification code reaches you.
Fewer Immigrants Qualify for Subsidies
Starting with 2027 coverage, the only non-citizens who qualify for Marketplace subsidies are lawful permanent residents (green-card holders), Cuban-Haitian entrants, and Compact of Free Association migrants from Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau. Refugees, asylees, people with Temporary Protected Status, and people on work or student visas lose subsidy eligibility.
Other Changes Worth Knowing
- HSA limits rise: If you have an HSA-eligible high-deductible plan, you can contribute up to $4,500 for self-only coverage or $9,000 for family coverage in 2027, up from $4,400 and $8,750. All Marketplace Bronze and Catastrophic plans remain HSA-eligible.
- Catastrophic plans are harder to get again: A court stayed the rule that had expanded access, so people 30 and older once more need a hardship or affordability exemption to buy one. That paperwork takes time, so start early.
- New state help: Virginia is launching a state-funded Virginia Premium Savings program for enrollees with incomes between 138% and 250% of the federal poverty level, applied automatically to metal-level plans bought through the state Marketplace.
How to Shop Smart This Year
- Read your renewal notice. It shows your plan’s 2027 premium and, if you get help, your after-subsidy price.
- Update your income and household details. HealthCare.gov says subsidies are based on your expected income for the coming year. If your estimate is too low, you may have to pay back the difference at tax time.
- Don’t just auto-renew. Compare every plan available in your area, including new ones. Look at deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums, not only premiums.
- Check your doctors and prescriptions. Confirm your providers are in-network and your medications are on the plan’s formulary.
- Consider Silver if your income is modest. Cost-sharing reductions, which lower deductibles and copays, only apply to Silver plans. If you qualify and pick Bronze, you give that help up.
- Preview prices now. HealthCare.gov’s plan and price preview tool lets you see estimated costs by ZIP code and income before enrollment opens.
- Watch for scams. Enrollment season brings fake “plan cancellation” calls and texts. Go directly to HealthCare.gov or your state’s exchange by typing the address yourself.
Health costs are landing on top of other pressures on household budgets this fall. If you’re looking for other places to trim, our guides on why gas prices are so high and nine ways to save and the Walmart+ and Sam’s Club Plus bundle may help. And if you’re clearing out your medicine cabinet before the new plan year, see our explainer on how to dispose of old medications safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does ACA open enrollment start and end for 2027?
In most states it runs from November 1, 2026, to January 15, 2027. Some state exchanges started earlier or run later, with several open until January 31, 2027.
What happens if I don’t do anything?
If you already have Marketplace coverage, you may be automatically re-enrolled, sometimes into a different plan if yours is ending. HealthCare.gov still recommends updating your application so you get the right amount of savings.
How much are ACA premiums going up in 2027?
The median proposed increase for full-price premiums is about 15%, according to KFF. What you actually pay depends on your state, your plan, and whether your subsidy grows enough to offset the increase.
Can I buy a Marketplace plan if I have Medicare?
No. Healthinsurance.org notes that it’s unlawful for someone to sell you a Marketplace or individual plan if you already have Medicare, so ACA open enrollment doesn’t apply to Medicare enrollees.
Is there a penalty for being uninsured?
There is no federal penalty, but Massachusetts, New Jersey, California, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia have their own requirements.
This article is for general information only and isn’t insurance, tax, or legal advice. Plan options and prices vary by location, so check your state’s Marketplace or a licensed professional for your situation.
Featured image: “Stethoscope on Piggy Bank” by 401(k) (401kcalculator.org), via Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
