ACA Open Enrollment for 2027: Dates and Deadlines
Open Enrollment is the one time each year anyone can buy or change a Marketplace plan without a qualifying life event. Here are the dates for HealthCare.gov states and what changed for 2027.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| November 1, 2026 | Open Enrollment starts for 2027 coverage. |
| December 15, 2026 | Enroll or change plans by this date for coverage starting January 1. |
| December 16 to January 15 | Enrollments in this window start February 1. |
| January 15, 2027 | Open Enrollment ends on HealthCare.gov. After this you need a Special Enrollment Period. |
States that run their own Marketplace can set different dates; check your state’s site.
What’s different for 2027
- The enhanced tax credits are gone. They expired after 2025. Households above 400% of the poverty line get no premium tax credit, and everyone else is expected to pay a larger share of income (up to 10.22%). Estimate yours with the subsidy calculator.
- Higher out-of-pocket limits. The most a plan can make you pay in-network rises to $12,000 for one person and $24,000 for a family.
- Don’t auto-renew without looking. Premiums, networks and your tax credit can all change; the plan you’re renewed into may not be the cheapest.
- No more year-round sign-up for low incomes. The monthly window for people at or under 150% of the poverty line is closed for 2027, so Open Enrollment matters more. See Special Enrollment Periods.
- No cap on paying back the credit. If your income ends up higher than you estimated, you repay all excess advance credit when you file. What changed when the enhanced subsidies ended.
How to shop in five steps
- Estimate your 2027 income for the whole household: it sets your tax credit and whether you qualify for lower deductibles on silver plans. Run it through the subsidy calculator.
- Preview plans on HealthCare.gov (or your state’s Marketplace) with your ZIP code, ages and income. No account is needed to window shop.
- Check doctors and drugs in each plan’s provider directory and drug list before comparing prices.
- Compare total yearly cost, not just the premium: premium after the credit plus the out-of-pocket maximum in a bad year. The metal tier calculator shows where bronze, silver and gold swap places, and our rankings do this for every HealthCare.gov plan once the 2027 files are out.
- Enroll by December 15, 2026 for coverage on January 1, and pay the first premium by the insurer’s deadline, or the plan won’t start.
Questions
When is ACA open enrollment for 2027?
On HealthCare.gov, November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15, 2026 for coverage starting January 1.
Can I sign up after January 15?
Only with a Special Enrollment Period, which follows events like losing other coverage, moving, marriage or having a baby. Medicaid and CHIP accept applications all year.
Will my plan renew automatically?
Usually, yes, if you don’t act, but your premium and tax credit may change. Update your application and compare plans each year.
Sources
Official sources only, checked October 17, 2026.
- HealthCare.gov, “Dates and deadlines” — healthcare.gov.
- IRS, Rev. Proc. 2026-26 — irs.gov PDF.
- CMS, 2027 maximum out-of-pocket guidance — cms.gov PDF.
Educational information, not medical, legal or financial advice. We are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. · Advertiser disclosure