ACA Open Enrollment 2027: Dates, Deadlines, Higher Premiums and What to Do If You Go Without Coverage

When is open enrollment for 2027 health insurance?

Open enrollment for 2027 coverage on HealthCare.gov runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. The date you enroll sets the date your coverage starts.

Your coverage starts once you pay your first premium.

States that run their own marketplace can set their own dates. California, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. give people until January 31, 2027. Idaho's window closes earlier, on December 15, 2026. Check your state's marketplace if it isn't HealthCare.gov.

A 2025 federal rule would have ended open enrollment on December 15 for 2027. A federal court blocked it in June 2026, and the government has appealed. Check HealthCare.gov for the latest dates.

Already have a marketplace plan? If you do nothing, you'll usually be re-enrolled in the same plan or a similar one. Your price and subsidy can still change, so log in and check your plan before December 15.

What is open enrollment?

Open enrollment is the yearly window when anyone can buy or change a marketplace plan. The marketplace, also called the exchange, is where you buy coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Outside this window, you need a life event that gives you a Special Enrollment Period.

Other coverage has its own timing. Job-based plans set their own open enrollment, often in the fall. Medicare open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7. For Medicare dates and changes, see our guide to Medicare open enrollment 2027.

What's changing for 2027?

The biggest change is cost. Many people who buy their own coverage will pay more for 2027.

• Higher premiums: benchmark premiums are up 13% on average for 2027, according to KFF. That's 11% in HealthCare.gov states and 16% in states with their own marketplace. The benchmark is the second-lowest-cost silver plan, and subsidies are based on it.

• Smaller subsidies: the enhanced premium tax credits that began in 2021 expired on December 31, 2025, and Congress hasn't renewed them. Premium tax credits now go only to households with incomes from 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level.

• A higher out-of-pocket limit: the yearly most you can pay for covered care rises to $12,000 for one person and $24,000 for a family. In 2026 it was $10,600 and $21,200.

• No more monthly low-income window: people with incomes up to 150% of the poverty level could enroll in any month. That Special Enrollment Period doesn't continue in 2027.

• Fewer people eligible for subsidies: from January 1, 2027, many lawfully present immigrants lose premium tax credits. Refugees and asylees, for example, can still buy a plan but get no credit. HealthCare.gov lists who still qualifies.

With higher premiums and smaller subsidies, run your numbers again on HealthCare.gov. Estimate your income carefully, too. If you get more tax credit than you qualify for, you pay it back at tax time. There's no longer a limit on that repayment, so a low guess can mean a large tax bill.

How do you compare plans?

Look past the monthly premium. The cheapest plan each month can cost more over the year if you need care. For each plan, check:

• Total cost: add the premium to the deductible, the amount you pay before the plan starts paying. Then look at the out-of-pocket maximum, the most you'd pay in a year for covered care.

• Metal level: bronze plans cost less each month but more when you get care. If your income qualifies, a silver plan can come with lower deductibles and copays.

• Doctors and hospitals: check that the ones you use are in the plan's network.

• Prescriptions: check that each drug you take is on the plan's drug list (formulary), and what it costs.

HealthCare.gov shows your estimated price after any tax credit. For free help, find a trained assister near you on HealthCare.gov or call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596.

What if you miss the deadline?

You can still get coverage in 2027 if a qualifying life event gives you a Special Enrollment Period. Common ones include:

• Losing health coverage: such as a job-based plan or Medicaid.

• Moving: to a new ZIP code or county.

• Changes in your household: getting married, having a baby or adopting a child.

You usually have 60 days after the event to choose a plan. Medicaid and CHIP (the Children's Health Insurance Program) accept applications all year, so if your income is low, you can apply any time.

What if you go without coverage?

There's no federal tax penalty for going without health insurance. A few places have their own penalty: California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C.

Going without coverage means paying full price for care, and one emergency or hospital stay can mean a large bill. If a full plan costs too much, look at these first:

• Medicaid: free coverage, or coverage at a small cost, if your income qualifies.

• Catastrophic plans: low premiums and high deductibles. You can buy one if you are under age 30, or if you qualify for a hardship or affordability exemption.

• Community health centers: care with fees on a sliding scale, based on what you can pay.

• Prescription discount programs: lower cash prices on many drugs. Our guide to getting a prescription without insurance covers the cheapest options.

How can Doctronic help, with or without insurance?

Without coverage, a new symptom can feel like a choice between a big bill and waiting to see if it passes. On Doctronic, a licensed doctor can see you by video for a new symptom, an ongoing condition or a prescription renewal. A video visit is $39, and a follow-up is $19. You can book one whether or not you have insurance.

Start with Doctronic's medical AI for questions about symptoms and medications. Licensed doctors see people in all 50 states. On a high-deductible plan, you pay full price for most visits until you meet your deductible. A Doctronic video visit is still $39.

Doctronic isn't an insurance agent or broker and doesn't recommend plans. For help choosing a plan, use HealthCare.gov or your state's marketplace.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does open enrollment end for 2027 health insurance?

On HealthCare.gov, January 15, 2027. To have coverage on January 1, enroll by December 15, 2026. Some states with their own marketplace give you until January 31.

What is health insurance open enrollment?

The yearly window when anyone can buy or change a marketplace plan without a life event. For 2027 coverage, it's November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov.

Can I still get subsidies in 2027?

Yes, if your household income is from 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level. You also can't be eligible for affordable job-based coverage, Medicare or Medicaid. From January 1, 2027, many lawfully present immigrants no longer qualify, and HealthCare.gov lists who still does. Above 400%, the premium tax credit no longer applies.

What is marketplace health insurance?

Health plans sold through HealthCare.gov or a state exchange under the Affordable Care Act. Every plan covers the same essential health benefits, and the marketplace is the only place to get premium tax credits.

What happens if I don't renew my marketplace plan?

You'll usually be re-enrolled automatically in the same or a similar plan. Your premium and tax credit may change, so check your plan before December 15.

The Bottom Line

The deadline is December 15 for coverage that starts January 1, and January 15 at the latest. Compare total costs, not just premiums, because many 2027 prices are higher. If you go without coverage, a licensed doctor is a $39 video visit away on Doctronic.