Open enrollment is the one time each year when anyone can sign up for an ACA Marketplace health plan or switch plans without needing a qualifying life event. If you buy your own coverage, or you’re planning to, the 2027 season brings higher premiums, a firmer income limit for tax credits, and new rules on paying credits back. Here’s what to know before November 1.
Key dates for 2027 coverage
In the states that use HealthCare.gov, open enrollment for 2027 plans runs from November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027.
| Date | What it means |
|---|---|
| November 1, 2026 | Open enrollment begins. You can browse plans and apply. |
| December 15, 2026 | Last day to pick a plan that starts January 1, 2027. |
| January 15, 2027 | Open enrollment ends. Plans chosen from December 16 on start February 1, 2027. |
Why you may have heard “December 15”: a 2025 federal rule would have ended open enrollment on December 15 in HealthCare.gov states starting this year. A federal court blocked that change in June 2026, and CMS confirmed in August that the November 1 to January 15 schedule applies. The government has appealed, so check HealthCare.gov for the latest. Either way, enrolling by December 15 gets you coverage from January 1.
If your state runs its own exchange
Many states and Washington, D.C. run their own enrollment websites instead of HealthCare.gov, and some set different dates. As of August 2026, for example:
- California, New Jersey, New York, and D.C.: open enrollment runs through January 31.
- Virginia: through January 29. Massachusetts: through January 23.
- Rhode Island: through December 31.
- Idaho: opens October 15 and closes December 15.
Many state exchanges, including Colorado, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Washington, follow the January 15 end date. Deadlines for a January 1 start can also differ, so confirm the dates on your state’s exchange website.
What’s different for 2027
1. Tax credits stop at 400% of the poverty level
The extra premium subsidies that applied from 2021 through 2025 have ended. For 2027 coverage, premium tax credits are generally available only to households with income between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level. Using the 2026 poverty guidelines, 400% works out to about $63,840 for a single person and $132,000 for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states and D.C. (limits are higher in Alaska and Hawaii). Earn even a little over the line and you generally get no credit at all.
2. You may have to pay back every dollar of excess credit
Tax credits are paid to your insurer in advance based on the income you estimate. If your actual income ends up higher, the difference is settled on your tax return. Starting with the 2026 tax year, the old caps on that repayment are gone, so you could owe back the full amount. A realistic income estimate, and updating it during the year if things change, matters more than ever.
3. Premiums are rising again
Insurers proposed a median increase of about 15% for 2027, according to KFF’s review of rate filings across all 50 states and D.C. Final rates vary widely by insurer and location, which is a good reason to compare plans instead of simply renewing.
4. Out-of-pocket limits are higher
For 2027, the most a plan can make you pay for covered in-network care is $12,000 for an individual and $24,000 for a family, up from $10,600 and $21,200 in 2026. Many plans set lower limits, so check each plan’s actual maximum.
5. Enrolling outside open enrollment is harder
After open enrollment closes, you generally need a qualifying life event, such as losing other coverage, moving, getting married, or having a baby, to sign up or change plans. The year-round enrollment option that some lower-income households used to have is no longer available. If you’re uninsured or unhappy with your plan, this window is the time to act.
Don’t let your plan renew on autopilot
If you already have Marketplace coverage and do nothing, you’ll often be renewed into the same plan or a similar one. That’s convenient, but your premium, your tax credit, and even your doctors may change for 2027. Log in, update your income, and compare before you let it roll over.
Your open enrollment checklist
- Estimate your 2027 household income, and note where it falls relative to the 400% line.
- Read your renewal notice if you have a plan now. Look for premium and network changes.
- List your doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions so you can check them against each plan.
- Compare total yearly cost: twelve months of premiums plus the deductible and out-of-pocket costs you’re likely to face.
- Enroll by December 15 if you want coverage on January 1.
Not sure how to weigh plans now that subsidies are smaller? See our guide to shopping for a Marketplace plan in 2027. Retiring before 65? Read health insurance for early retirees.
Please note: LocalQuotes.online is not an insurance company, agency, or broker and is not affiliated with HealthCare.gov or any government agency. We connect you with licensed agents and marketing partners who may contact you about plans. Not all plans are available in all states, and plan details vary. We may be compensated by the agents and partners we connect you with. This page is general information, not insurance, legal, or tax advice.