Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment for 2027 Coverage, Explained

The dates moved, the subsidies changed, and premiums are climbing. Here is what it all means for your coverage, with a licensed agent one call away when you want a person instead of a website.

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Last updated: September 17, 2026 · Reviewed by: David Shelley, Licensed Insurance Agent, NPN 1245473

When is open enrollment for 2027 health coverage?

Open enrollment on HealthCare.gov starts Sunday, November 1, 2026 and runs through January 15, 2027. A court fight over a rule that would have ended it on December 15 is still going, but in early August 2026 federal regulators confirmed the January 15 end date for this enrollment season no matter how the appeal turns out. Several state marketplaces set their own deadlines. The simplest way past all of it: enroll by December 15 and your coverage starts January 1.

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This Year

What's different for 2027

More changed between last fall and this one than in the several years before it. Four things worth knowing before you shop.

The end date is confirmed, but the court fight is not over

A rule ending open enrollment on December 15 was struck down in June. The appeal is still pending, but regulators have confirmed January 15 holds for this season. Enrolling by December 15 keeps it simple either way.

The extra subsidies expired

The pandemic-era boost to premium tax credits ended in January 2026. The original subsidies still exist, and an agent can tell you in one call what you qualify for now.

Premiums are climbing, and insurers are leaving

Insurers have proposed a median increase of about 15 percent for 2027, about 13 percent in Texas, and nine carriers including Cigna are exiting. Shop around, and read the renewal letter before auto-renewal decides for you.

The repayment caps are gone

Starting with 2026 tax returns, if your income comes in higher than you estimated, you repay the full excess subsidy. Estimate carefully and report changes mid-year.

The Game Plan

Your open enrollment game plan

Five moves, in order. Do these and you will be ahead of nearly everyone who waits for December.

Mark November 1

Window shopping usually opens on HealthCare.gov in late October, and plans with real 2027 prices go live November 1. The earlier you compare, the calmer every later step gets.

Enroll by December 15 for January 1 coverage

Gather your numbers

Expected 2027 income for everyone on your tax return, your current plan details, your doctors, and your prescriptions. Fifteen minutes of prep turns shopping from guesswork into a checklist. With the repayment caps gone, a careful income estimate is worth real money.

Read your renewal letter

Your insurer must tell you what your plan will cost next year. With this year’s increases, do not let auto-renewal decide for you. The same coverage can cost very different amounts across carriers.

Price the gaps, not just the premium

Deductibles rose about a thousand dollars per person this year. A cheaper premium with a taller deductible can cost more overall, and supplemental coverage can catch what slips through.

Talk to a licensed agent before you commit

It is free, and it usually takes one call. Salaried agents compare marketplace, private, and supplemental options side by side, and if what you have is still your best fit, they will say so.

No cost, no obligation

Deadlines

Open enrollment deadlines at a glance

Where you shop	Window for 2027 coverage	What to know
HealthCare.gov states, including Texas	November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027	The January 15 end date is confirmed for this season, though the appeal continues. December 15 is still the date that matters: it gets you January 1 coverage.
California, New York, New Jersey, D.C.	Through January 31, 2027	The longest windows in the country, set by state marketplaces.
Virginia, Massachusetts	Virginia through January 29; Massachusetts October 23 to January 23	Late-January endings set by the state marketplaces. Massachusetts also opens early.
Connecticut	October 23, 2026 to January 15, 2027	Opens a week early, ends with the federal window.
Rhode Island, Idaho	Rhode Island through December 31; Idaho October 15 to December 15	The two shortest windows. Miss them and the next chance is a qualifying life event.
Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and other state marketplaces	November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027	Same window as HealthCare.gov. Oregon moves to its own platform this year and opens preview shopping October 15.

Deadlines as of September 17, 2026. The court appeal now affects future years rather than this season's dates, and states can adjust their windows, so we update this page whenever anything moves.

Fill the Gaps

Coverage that picks up what your health plan doesn't

With deductibles climbing, open enrollment is also the season to look at coverage that pays you directly when life happens.

Hospital indemnity

Pays you set cash amounts for hospital stays, on top of whatever your health plan covers.

How it works

Fixed indemnity

Set cash payouts for covered visits and services, with no deductible to meet first.

How it works

Dental and vision

Most marketplace plans skip adult dental and vision entirely. Standalone plans fill that in.

See the options

Hospital indemnity and fixed indemnity plans are supplemental coverage that pays cash benefits. They are not a replacement for comprehensive health insurance.

Status Check

Where the moving parts stand

As of September 17, 2026:

The end date. A federal court vacated the December 15 cutoff in June, and the government appealed in July. In early August, federal regulators confirmed that open enrollment runs through January 15, 2027 this season regardless. The appeal, set for argument in late October, affects fall 2027 at the earliest.
Subsidies. The enhanced premium tax credits expired January 1, 2026. The House passed a three-year extension in January, the Senate has not acted, and the original income-based credits remain in place.
Premiums. Out-of-pocket premium payments rose 58 percent on average this year, and insurers have proposed a median increase of about 15 percent for 2027, about 13 percent in Texas. Final rates are approved this fall.
Repayment caps. Starting with 2026 tax returns, there is no cap on repaying excess advance premium tax credit if your income comes in higher than you estimated.
Insurers leaving. Nine carriers, including Cigna, have announced they will exit the marketplace for 2027. Renewal letters go out in the fall; read yours before auto-renewal decides.
Short-term plans. The federal four-month limit is technically in place, but enforcement is paused while the rule is rewritten, and state limits now vary widely.

We update this page when any of these move. The full rundown, with sources: What changed for 2027 open enrollment.

Questions

Most common questions about open enrollment

When does open enrollment start and end?

For 2027 coverage, open enrollment on HealthCare.gov runs from November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027, confirmed by federal regulators in August 2026 despite a pending court appeal that now affects future years. State-run marketplaces set their own windows, from mid-December through as late as January 31. If you enroll by December 15, none of the legal back and forth affects you. Everything else that changed this year is in our guide to what changed for 2027 open enrollment.

What happens if I enroll by December 15?

Your coverage starts January 1, 2027. That is true in every state and under every version of the disputed rule, which is why we treat December 15 as the real deadline.

When does coverage start if I enroll later than December 15?

On HealthCare.gov, enrolling between December 16 and January 15 gives you a February 1 start date. That means one month of the new year on your old plan, or without coverage, so earlier is better.

What happened to the extra subsidies?

The enhanced premium tax credits from the pandemic years expired on January 1, 2026, which is the main reason premium payments jumped this year. Congress has debated an extension all year and the House passed one, but nothing has been signed into law. We will update this page if that changes.

Can I still get help paying for coverage?

Yes. The original ACA premium tax credits still exist and are based on your household income and the cost of plans where you live. Many people still qualify for meaningful help, and a licensed agent can check your numbers in a few minutes at no cost.

What if I miss the deadline?

You generally cannot enroll in a marketplace plan until next fall unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period through a life event like losing coverage, moving, getting married, or having a baby. Some private and supplemental plans enroll year round, so missing the window does not always mean going without.

Can I switch plans after open enrollment ends?

Not on the marketplace, unless a qualifying life event opens a Special Enrollment Period for you. Private and supplemental plans are more flexible, and an agent can tell you which options stay open in your state.

Is it free to work with one of your agents?

Yes, completely. Our agents are salaried, so their advice is not shaped by commissions, and there is never a fee for helping you compare or enroll.

Do I have to buy through the Marketplace?

No. The marketplace is the only place to use premium tax credits, but private plans, supplemental coverage, and employer options all exist outside it. We compare across all of them and tell you which path actually costs less for your situation.

What about short-term health plans?

The rules are in flux. A federal limit caps short-term plans at four months, but enforcement is paused while Washington rewrites the rule, and some states now allow longer terms. What you can buy depends on your state, which is exactly the kind of thing a licensed agent keeps current on.

Do I need supplemental insurance if I have an ACA plan?

It depends on your deductible and your savings. Marketplace deductibles rose about a thousand dollars per person this year, and most plans skip adult dental and vision. Hospital indemnity, fixed indemnity, dental, and vision plans exist to cover exactly those holes.

Why Us

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Sources

Open enrollment dates and state deadlines: healthinsurance.org, "What are the deadlines for the ACA’s open enrollment period?" (updated August 2026), healthinsurance.org, "2027 ACA open enrollment: what's changing" (September 2026), and HealthCare.gov.

Court ruling and appeal: U.S. District Court of Maryland decision vacating provisions of the 2025 CMS Marketplace Integrity and Affordability rule (June 2026); HHS appeal filed July 2026, oral arguments scheduled late October 2026; CMS confirmed the November 1 to January 15 window for 2027 coverage in August 2026.

Premium changes: KFF, "In Preliminary Rate Filings, ACA Marketplace Insurers Largely Propose Double-Digit Premium Increases for 2027" (July 8, 2026, updated August 3, 2026); healthinsurance.org 2027 rate filings by state (September 2026); KFF analysis of 2026 effectuated enrollment and premium payments (June 29, 2026).

Subsidy status: Congressional action on enhanced premium tax credit extension, January 2026; ASTHO legislative tracking, 2026. Repayment caps, eligibility, and auto-renewal changes: H.R. 1 (2025), sections 71301 to 71305, as summarized by the Kansas Health Institute (August 2026). Insurer exits: KFF insurer participation tracker (updated September 2026).

Short-term plan rules: CMS 2024 final rule on short-term, limited-duration insurance; federal non-enforcement announcement, August 2025.

This page is educational, not legal or tax advice. Plan availability and pricing vary by state and household. Last reviewed September 17, 2026.