Open enrollment for 2027 Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans opened on Nov. 1, 2026 in most states. This is the first year in several that shoppers face the full effect of expired enhanced subsidies, and early data point to higher premiums. Here is what you need to know before you pick a plan.
What has changed
Enhanced subsidies are gone. The larger premium tax credits created in 2021 and later extended through 2025 lapsed at the end of 2025. Congress did not renew them. Most marketplace enrollees still qualify for some financial help, but the amount is generally lower than in recent years.
Premiums are rising. The health policy research group KFF reports that marketplace premiums are expected to climb a median of about 15% for 2027, and that average benchmark silver premiums have increased by about 42% between 2025 and 2027.
Fewer people are enrolled. Marketplace plan selections fell by about 1.2 million during the 2026 enrollment period, and KFF reports that individual-market enrollment fell 18% between June 2025 and June 2026.
Some insurers are leaving. Nearly a dozen carriers have announced they are exiting ACA marketplaces for the coming plan year, so your current plan may no longer be offered in your area.
Deadlines: check your state
The most important rule: to have coverage start on Jan. 1, 2027, you generally need to enroll by Dec. 15, 2026. Sign-ups after that typically start Feb. 1.
How long the window stays open after Dec. 15 depends on where you live:
HealthCare.gov states: there has been conflicting reporting about whether the federal window closes Dec. 15 or Jan. 15, 2027, following a federal rule change and subsequent court action. Confirm the end date directly on HealthCare.gov before you plan around it.
State-run exchanges set their own dates. Some close earlier (Idaho closes in mid-December), and others, such as California, Massachusetts and Virginia, run into January.
Do not wait for the last day. Systems can slow down and identity checks can take time.
How to compare plans without overpaying
Update your income estimate. Subsidies are based on your expected 2027 household income. If it will differ from last year, update it. Overestimating can reduce your help now; underestimating can mean repaying part of it at tax time.
Look at total cost, not just the monthly premium. A low-premium bronze plan can carry a deductible of several thousand dollars. If you expect regular care, a silver or gold plan may cost less overall.
Check for cost-sharing reductions. If your income is within certain limits, silver plans can come with lower deductibles and copays. This benefit exists only on silver plans purchased through the marketplace.
Confirm your doctors and drugs. Search the plan’s provider network and formulary before you enroll. Networks can change from year to year.
Don’t auto-renew blindly. If your insurer is leaving or your plan’s price jumped, being auto-renewed into a replacement plan can cost much more than another option.
Look at employer or other coverage. Medicaid or CHIP, an employer plan, or a spouse’s plan may be cheaper depending on your situation.
Use free, official help. HealthCare.gov and state marketplaces offer “window shopping” and live help. Local navigators and certified enrollment counselors can help at no charge.
Watch for scams
Sign-up season attracts fake “enrollment” sites and calls that sell non-ACA products. Real marketplace plans are bought only through HealthCare.gov or your state exchange, or through a licensed broker who connects you to them. No one should ask for a fee to apply for ACA coverage.
What it means for households
For people who rely on marketplace coverage, higher premiums with smaller subsidies mean tough trade-offs. Retirees face a parallel squeeze (their own Medicare open enrollment window closes Dec. 7), as the Medicare Part B premium eats into the 3.6% Social Security raise for 2027. For working families the choice means: higher deductibles, narrower networks, or going without coverage. Insurers have cited rising medical costs, in an economy where the Fed says inflation remains elevated, and the expected drop in enrollment as reasons for rate increases. The political fight over subsidies is likely to continue into the next Congress, which takes office on Jan. 3, 2027.
General information, not insurance or legal advice. Deadlines and premiums vary by state and plan; verify on HealthCare.gov or your state exchange.
