Short answer: In the states that use HealthCare.gov, Open Enrollment for 2027 individual and family health plans starts November 1, 2026 and ends January 15, 2027. Pick a plan by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1; enroll December 16 through January 15 and coverage starts February 1. Either way, coverage begins only after you pay the first premium (HealthCare.gov dates and deadlines). If you already have a Marketplace plan and do nothing by December 15, you may be automatically re-enrolled, but your savings could be based on old information. HealthCare.gov also flags two changes this year: the extra pandemic-era savings ended December 31, 2025, and starting January 1, 2027, only certain immigration statuses qualify for savings.
This guide is for people who buy their own health insurance in any state: the self-employed, early retirees, gig workers, people between jobs and families whose employer doesn't offer coverage. It's general information. Your Marketplace eligibility notice and plan documents control.
The 2027 calendar at a glance
| Date | What happens (HealthCare.gov states) |
|---|---|
| By Nov. 1, 2026 | You should get two letters: one from your current insurer and one from the Marketplace |
| Nov. 1, 2026 | Open Enrollment opens; 2027 plans, prices and savings estimates go live |
| Dec. 15, 2026 | Last day to pick a plan for coverage starting Jan. 1; automatic re-enrollment applies if you haven't acted |
| Dec. 31, 2026 | Your 2026 coverage ends, no matter when you enrolled |
| Jan. 1, 2027 | Coverage starts for Dec. 15 enrollees who've paid the first premium |
| Jan. 15, 2027 | Open Enrollment ends |
| Feb. 1, 2027 | Coverage starts for people who enrolled Dec. 16 to Jan. 15 and paid |
Sources: HealthCare.gov dates and deadlines and Renew, change, update or cancel your plan.
If your state runs its own Marketplace
Some states operate their own exchange and can set different deadlines. New Jersey's GetCoveredNJ, for example, says its Open Enrollment runs November 1 to January 31 (GetCoveredNJ), and New York State of Health says enrollment for 2027 opens November 1 (NY State of Health). Oregon is switching platforms: starting November 1, Oregon residents use ExploreHealthOR.gov for 2027 coverage instead of HealthCare.gov (HealthCare.gov, The Marketplace in your state). Use that HealthCare.gov page to find your state's site and check its own deadline before you rely on the dates above.
What changed for 2027
The extra pandemic-era savings are gone. HealthCare.gov lists this as a possible reason your Marketplace letter says you won't get a premium tax credit next year: "The additional savings available because of the COVID pandemic ended on December 31, 2025" (HealthCare.gov). Don't treat that letter as final. HealthCare.gov tells people to update their application anyway, since an updated application may show that they do qualify.
Savings are narrower for some lawfully present immigrants. Lawfully present immigrants can still buy Marketplace coverage. But HealthCare.gov says that because of a law change, starting January 1, 2027, only certain statuses qualify for savings: lawful permanent residents (green card holders), Cuban or Haitian entrants and Compact of Free Association (COFA) migrants. People with other statuses may still buy a plan, but at full price (HealthCare.gov, lawfully present immigrants).
2027 savings numbers arrive November 1. Until then, HealthCare.gov's savings estimator uses 2026 amounts (HealthCare.gov, income levels and savings). Treat any estimate you see in October as a rough guide.
Automatic re-enrollment: convenient, but check it
If you have Marketplace coverage in December and don't choose a plan or end your coverage by December 15, HealthCare.gov will generally re-enroll you. That could be in your current plan, a different plan from the same insurer or, if your insurer is leaving, a plan from a different company (HealthCare.gov). Three things to watch:
- Your savings may be miscalculated. If you don't update your income, the Marketplace estimates your tax credit from the most recent information it has, including your last application and IRS data. Take too much advance credit and you'll pay the difference back when you file your federal return (HealthCare.gov, reporting changes).
- Your plan, network or drug list may have changed. Plans and prices change every year. Read the insurer's letter and compare before December 15.
- You can still switch. If automatic re-enrollment kicked in, you can pick a different plan until January 15, with the new plan starting February 1.
If your insurer's letter says it's dropping your plan for 2027, update your application and, when asked, say you're losing coverage on December 31.
How your 2027 premium tax credit is figured
HealthCare.gov says your premium tax credit depends on your estimated household income for 2027, not last year's; your household size; and the plans available where you live (HealthCare.gov). Even if your income doesn't change, your credit can, because premiums change.
Your household for this purpose is you, your spouse if you're married, and everyone you'll claim as a tax dependent, including people who don't need coverage (HealthCare.gov, income levels and savings). Self-employed and gig workers can start from adjusted gross income (Form 1040, line 11) and adjust for what they expect in 2027. Then report changes during the year as soon as they happen.
The premium tax credit is available only on plans bought through the Marketplace. You can buy an individual plan outside the Marketplace, but you can't get the credit on it.
Choosing a metal level
All Marketplace plans cover the same 10 essential health benefits, including prescription drugs, emergency services, hospitalization, and mental health and substance use disorder services. They also cover pre-existing conditions and in-network preventive care at no cost to you (HealthCare.gov quick guide). The metal levels differ in how costs are split, not in quality of care:
| Category | Plan pays (approx.) | You pay (approx.) | Deductible generally |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 60% | 40% | High |
| Silver | 70% | 30% | Moderate |
| Silver with extra savings (cost-sharing reductions) | 73%–96%, depending on the savings you qualify for | The rest | Low |
| Gold | 80% | 20% | Low |
| Platinum | 90% | 10% | Low |
Source: HealthCare.gov, health plan categories. These are averages across covered services; what you actually pay varies by plan.
Two notes from HealthCare.gov:
- Extra savings come only with Silver. If your income qualifies you for cost-sharing reductions, you get them only by choosing a Silver plan.
- Catastrophic plans have low premiums and very high deductibles. They're open to people under 30 and to people with a hardship or affordability exemption, and they may not be offered everywhere. If you qualify for a tax credit, a Bronze or Silver plan may be the better value (HealthCare.gov, catastrophic plans). Bronze and Catastrophic plans work with health savings accounts.
After January 15: Special Enrollment Periods
Once Open Enrollment closes, you can generally enroll or change plans only with a qualifying life event. HealthCare.gov's rules include (Special Enrollment Periods):
- Losing qualifying coverage (a job plan, for example): enroll in the 60 days before or the 60 days after. If you lose Medicaid or CHIP, the window is 90 days.
- Getting married, having a baby or adopting: generally within 60 days of the event.
- COBRA running out: you have 60 days after it expires. Choosing to drop COBRA early doesn't qualify you.
Medicaid and CHIP accept applications all year, and coverage can start right away if you qualify.
Turning 65 or getting Medicare in 2027?
HealthCare.gov says you can't get Marketplace savings once you're eligible for Medicare Part A, or once your Part A or Medicare Advantage coverage starts. It advises ending Marketplace coverage if you'll soon have or already have Part A or Medicare Advantage, and says it's against the law for someone who knows you have Medicare to sell you a Marketplace plan (HealthCare.gov, changing from the Marketplace to Medicare). Line up your Medicare start date and your Marketplace end date so you don't have a gap or pay double. For Medicare plan choices this fall, see our Medicare Open Enrollment 2026 checklist and retirement insurance checklist.
Open Enrollment checklist
- ☐ Read both renewal letters (insurer and Marketplace) when they arrive.
- ☐ Log in after November 1 and update your 2027 income estimate and household.
- ☐ Check that your doctors, hospitals and prescriptions are in the 2027 network and drug list.
- ☐ Compare total yearly cost (premiums plus the deductible and out-of-pocket maximum you might realistically hit), not just the monthly premium.
- ☐ If you qualify for extra savings, compare Silver plans first.
- ☐ Pick a plan by December 15 for January 1 coverage, then pay the first premium to the insurer.
- ☐ Keep your Marketplace notices and, at tax time, Form 1095-A.
You can apply online, by phone, with a local assister, through an agent or broker, through a certified enrollment partner website, or on paper (HealthCare.gov quick guide). Life changes affect more than health coverage; our changing jobs insurance checklist and moving to a new state checklist cover the rest.
Frequently asked questions
When is Open Enrollment for 2027 health insurance?
On HealthCare.gov it runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15 for coverage starting January 1, or by January 15 for coverage starting February 1. Some state-run Marketplaces set later deadlines.
What happens if I don't renew my Marketplace plan by December 15?
If you have Marketplace coverage in December and take no action, HealthCare.gov will generally re-enroll you automatically, in the same plan or another one. Update your income and household so your savings are right, and compare plans. You can still switch until January 15.
Why does my Marketplace letter say I won't get a premium tax credit in 2027?
HealthCare.gov lists several possible reasons, including that the extra pandemic-era savings ended on December 31, 2025, and that updated IRS income data may show you don't qualify. Update your application anyway. You may still qualify.
Do immigrants still qualify for Marketplace savings in 2027?
Lawfully present immigrants can still buy Marketplace coverage. Starting January 1, 2027, HealthCare.gov says savings are limited to certain statuses, including lawful permanent residents, Cuban or Haitian entrants and COFA migrants. Other lawfully present immigrants may buy a plan without savings.
Can I get a Marketplace plan after January 15?
Only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, for example because you lost other coverage, got married or had a baby, generally within 60 days. Medicaid and CHIP accept applications all year.
Can I keep a Marketplace plan after I get Medicare?
HealthCare.gov says you can't get savings once you're eligible for Medicare Part A, and it's illegal for someone who knows you have Medicare to sell you a Marketplace plan. It advises ending Marketplace coverage once you have Part A or Medicare Advantage.
Alishahi Insurance · 439 N Canon Dr, Penthouse, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 · (877) 711-4545 · CA License #4348151. General information only. This isn't legal, tax or financial advice or a coverage determination. Coverage depends on policy language and underwriting, and rules vary by state.