ACA Open Enrollment 2027: Dates, Deadlines, and What to Do First

Open Enrollment for 2027 Marketplace coverage starts November 1, 2026, and ends January 15, 2027. To have coverage begin on January 1, 2027, you must enroll in or change plans by December 15, 2026 and pay your first premium. These dates are published by HealthCare.gov for the federal Marketplace.

Open Enrollment is the yearly window when you can enroll in a new Marketplace plan, renew coverage, or switch plans without needing a qualifying life event. Outside that window, you generally need a Special Enrollment Period.

2027 Open Enrollment dates

Who should act during this window

Open Enrollment is not only for people who are uninsured. Consider reviewing coverage if any of the following applies:

• You buy coverage yourself and want to compare next year's premiums, networks, and drug lists.
• You are self-employed, between jobs, or working without an offer of affordable employer coverage.
• You are paying for COBRA and want to compare Marketplace options. See our guide to health coverage after losing a job.
• Your income or household size has changed enough that your savings estimate may be wrong.
• Your doctors, hospital, or prescriptions may not be in the plan's network or drug list next year.
• You are turning 26 and losing a parent's plan, or you are newly responsible for a family member's coverage.

If you have Medicare, the Marketplace is not your enrollment path; Medicare has its own enrollment periods. If you have low income, you may qualify for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at any time of year.

Four steps to enroll

1. Create or sign in to your Marketplace account. Use the official federal site if your state uses it. Some states run their own Marketplace, so confirm which site and dates apply where you live.
2. Complete the application accurately. Report your household, expected 2027 income, and any offer of other coverage. The application determines what savings you may qualify for.
3. Compare plans using total cost, not just the premium. Check the deductible, copays, coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximum, provider network, and drug list. Our health insurance cost guide and plan network comparison explain the trade-offs.
4. Pay the first premium. Enrollment is not finished until the insurer receives payment. Confirm the amount, due date, and payment channel on the plan's own materials.

What to gather before you start

• Names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers for everyone applying.
• Immigration document numbers where applicable.
• Expected 2027 household income, including wages, self-employment income, and other taxable income.
• Current policy numbers and the plan documents for any coverage you already have.
• Information about any employer coverage offered to you or a family member, including its cost.
• A list of doctors, prescriptions, and preferred hospitals you want to check.

HealthCare.gov publishes a downloadable checklist and an income estimator; using them before you apply reduces the chance of a correction later.

If you already have a Marketplace plan

Do not assume that doing nothing keeps everything the same. Insurers can change premiums, deductibles, networks, and drug coverage from one year to the next, and a plan may be discontinued. Review your renewal notice and compare at least one alternative before the December 15 deadline.

If you receive advance payments of the premium tax credit, update your income estimate and household information. A stale estimate can mean a larger repayment at tax time or a smaller credit than you were entitled to. Our explanation of the premium tax credit walks through how the reconciliation works.

Savings and price estimates for 2027

HealthCare.gov states that 2027 income levels and savings amounts are published starting November 1, 2026; before that date, its estimator uses 2026 amounts as a rough guide. Treat any pre-November figure as an estimate, not a promise of your final price. Actual prices depend on your county, age, household, plan choice, and verified income.

If you miss January 15

After Open Enrollment ends, you can generally enroll or change plans only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Common qualifying events include losing other qualifying coverage, moving to a new area, marriage, birth or adoption, and certain changes in income or household. The window and documentation rules depend on the event, so check the official Marketplace page rather than assuming you have 60 days.

Medicaid and CHIP do not follow the Marketplace Open Enrollment calendar. If your income is low, you can apply for those programs at any time.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Enrolling after December 15 and expecting January 1 coverage.
• Selecting a plan by premium alone and ignoring the deductible and out-of-pocket maximum.
• Forgetting to confirm that a preferred doctor, hospital, or drug is covered by the specific plan.
• Using last year's income instead of a realistic 2027 estimate.
• Leaving out a family member who will be claimed as a tax dependent.
• Assuming an automatic renewal preserves the same benefits and network.
• Missing the first premium payment after selecting a plan.

This guide is general U.S. consumer education, not personalized insurance, tax, or legal advice. Dates and rules can change, and state-run Marketplaces may set different deadlines. Confirm details with HealthCare.gov, your state Marketplace, or your plan before relying on them.

Editorial note: Policy Made Clear provides general education, not personalized insurance, legal, tax, medical, or financial advice. We are not an insurer or agency. The issued contract and applicable law control your coverage.