ACA Open Enrollment 2027: Deadlines By State And What's Changing

Open enrollment for 2027 Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plans starts Sunday, November 1, 2026, in most states and runs through January 15, 2027. Pick a plan by December 15 if you want coverage to start on January 1. This year it pays to shop rather than let your plan renew on autopilot: premiums are going up again, several big insurers are leaving the marketplace, and a few new rules could add steps to signing up.

Here is what is changing, the key deadlines in your state, and what to check before you enroll.

Key ACA Open Enrollment Dates for 2027 Coverage

According to HealthCare.gov, the federal marketplace timeline is:

November 1, 2026: Open enrollment starts. You can enroll in, renew, or change a marketplace plan for 2027.
December 15, 2026: Last day to pick a plan for coverage that starts January 1.
January 1, 2027: Coverage begins for people who enrolled by December 15 and paid their first premium.
January 15, 2027: Open enrollment ends in most states.
February 1, 2027: Coverage begins for people who enrolled between December 16 and January 15.

Your coverage does not start until you pay your first premium, which goes straight to the insurance company, not the marketplace.

States with different deadlines

States that run their own exchanges can set their own windows. Based on eHealth’s state-by-state list:

Idaho opened early on October 15 and closes December 15, 2026.
Connecticut opened October 23 and runs to January 15, 2027. Massachusetts opened October 23 and runs to January 23, 2027.
California and New Jersey run through January 31, 2027, with a December 31 deadline for January 1 coverage.
New York and Washington, D.C. also stay open through January 31, 2027.
Rhode Island runs through January 31, and Virginia through January 29, 2027.
Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington give you until December 31 for January 1 coverage.
Vermont has a shorter window that ends December 28, 2026.

Dates can change, so confirm the deadline on your own state’s marketplace before you count on extra time.

How Much Are ACA Premiums Going Up in 2027?

The short answer: about 15% at the median, for the second straight year of double-digit increases. Healthinsurance.org puts the nationwide median proposed rate increase at about 15%, with weighted averages ranging from under 7% in Vermont, New York, Iowa and Utah to a proposed 29% in Arizona. A Washington Post analysis published October 29 also found marketplace premiums will typically rise around 15% next year.

That follows a rough 2026. The enhanced federal subsidies expired at the end of 2025 after Congress did not renew them, and last year’s average premium increase was 26%, according to KFF Health News. Higher earners lost subsidies entirely.

Will subsidies cover the increase?

For many people, partly. Most marketplace shoppers still get a premium tax credit; 87% of enrollees qualified for one during the last open enrollment, according to healthinsurance.org. Subsidies are tied to the cost of the benchmark plan (the second-lowest-cost silver plan in your area), so when benchmark premiums rise, subsidies generally rise too. The catch is that your own plan’s price may not move in step with the benchmark, and people who do not qualify for a subsidy pay the full increase.

Insurers Leaving the Marketplace: Check If Your Plan Is Ending

This is the change most likely to catch people off guard. Healthinsurance.org reports that insurers are exiting ACA marketplaces in 24 states, and hundreds of thousands of enrollees have plans that end with 2026. NBC News, citing KFF, says 11 insurers plan to leave the marketplaces in at least some states, including Cigna, which is exiting all 11 states where it sells ACA plans and covers more than 350,000 enrollees. Six insurers plan to enter new markets, and California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Texas will each gain one new carrier.

If your insurer is leaving, the marketplace may assign you to a different plan automatically. That plan may not include your doctors or have the costs you expect, so it is worth choosing a replacement yourself.

Other ACA Changes for 2027 to Know About

Higher out-of-pocket maximum

The most an individual can be required to pay out of pocket for covered care rises to $12,000 in 2027, up from $10,600 in 2026. Plans can set lower limits, so compare deductibles and copays, not just the monthly premium.

Higher HSA limits

If you have an HSA-eligible plan, you can put up to $4,500 into a health savings account for self-only coverage or $9,000 for family coverage in 2027, up from $4,400 and $8,750.

Extra identity and broker checks

People in HealthCare.gov states may need to take extra steps to verify their identity. If you use an agent or broker on the federal marketplace, CBS News reports you will need a one-time code or link to authorize that specific agent, and anyone with outdated contact information must update it with the marketplace first. A new rule also bars agents who were not registered with the federal marketplace in 2026 from helping with 2027 enrollments until February at the earliest. These broker rules do not apply to state-run exchanges.

Fewer immigrants eligible for subsidies

Starting with 2027 coverage, subsidy eligibility for non-citizens is limited to lawful permanent residents, Cuban-Haitian Entrants and Compact of Free Association migrants. Refugees, asylees, people with Temporary Protected Status and those on work or student visas no longer qualify for federal marketplace subsidies.

Tighter rules for catastrophic plans

Most people 30 and older will again need a hardship or affordability exemption to buy a catastrophic plan, after a court ruling ended last year’s expanded eligibility.

State-level changes

Oregon is leaving HealthCare.gov for its own Explore Health platform, Virginia is adding state-funded subsidies, and Rhode Island set aside $19 million to replace part of the expired federal enhancements. Georgia, meanwhile, is not offering a “window shopping” preview before November 1 this year, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

What to Do Before You Enroll

Check whether your insurer is staying. Look for a discontinuation notice in your mail or email.
Update your income and household details. Your subsidy is based on what you expect to earn in 2027.
Preview prices. HealthCare.gov’s plan estimator shows estimated prices by ZIP code and income.
Compare total costs. Look at the deductible, out-of-pocket maximum and whether your doctors and prescriptions are covered.
Leave time for verification. Make sure your contact information is current, especially if you use a broker.
Do not miss December 15 if you want coverage on January 1.

If money is tight this winter, you may also want to read our guides to SNAP changes starting in November and how to compare federal dental benefits. Older relatives on Medicare should note that Medicare has its own separate enrollment season; see our explainer on the Medicare $90 rebate check.

FAQ

When does ACA open enrollment start for 2027?

November 1, 2026, in most states. Idaho, Connecticut and Massachusetts started earlier in October.

When is the deadline to sign up for 2027 health insurance?

January 15, 2027, in most states, but you must enroll by December 15, 2026, for coverage starting January 1. Several states, including California, New Jersey and New York, stay open until late January.

Will my plan renew automatically?

Often, yes, but if your insurer is leaving your state you may be moved to a different plan. Reviewing your options is the safer move, especially with premiums changing.

Can I enroll after January 15?

Only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period because of a life change such as losing other coverage, or if you qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, which you can join any time of year.

Featured image: “Stethoscope on Piggy Bank” by 401(k), CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.