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ACA open enrollment for 2027 starts November 1. Prices are going up, a few insurers are bowing out, and the extra subsidies that padded the last few years are gone. We aren’t saying panic. We are saying that hitting “keep my plan” without a glance could cost you real money this time.
This guide covers the dates, the numbers behind the price changes, and six things worth checking before you pick a plan.
Key dates for ACA open enrollment
On HealthCare.gov, which most states use, ACA open enrollment runs from November 1 through January 15. According to the HealthCare.gov marketplace page, you need to enroll by December 15 for coverage to start on January 1, while enrolling by January 15 starts coverage on February 1. Outside that window, you generally need a qualifying life event to enroll, though Medicaid and CHIP can be applied for at any time.
State-run exchanges keep their own calendars. In Healthinsurance.org’s deadline guide, California, New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island are among the states that close on January 31, while Idaho ends on December 15. Some states also open ahead of November 1: Idaho on October 15, Connecticut and Massachusetts on October 23. Look up your state’s exchange before assuming the federal dates apply.
Why premiums are rising
Start with the damage. The median rate request is about 15 percent before subsidies, according to KFF numbers that healthinsurance.org passes along. Geography matters, though. In Vermont the weighted average is closer to 3 percent. In Arizona it’s 29. And requests aren’t final. New York’s regulators landed on 6 percent after insurers there wanted about 20.
The drivers are familiar: hospital and drug costs, including GLP-1 medications, labor costs, and higher use of care. Insurers also expect a less healthy pool of customers now that the enhanced subsidies are gone, and some are pricing in federal rule changes that courts have since blocked in part.
How subsidies change the picture
Most people don’t pay the sticker price. At the start of 2026, 87 percent of marketplace enrollees got a subsidy, healthinsurance.org reports. That help is pegged to the second-lowest-cost Silver plan in your area, so if the benchmark climbs, your subsidy usually climbs too. Subsidized shoppers are partly or fully cushioned. Everyone else, including anyone who buys off the exchange, eats the whole increase.
Two numbers deserve a note on your calendar. The share of income you’re expected to pay for the benchmark plan inches up in 2027 and now runs from 2.15 to 10.22 percent. And the 400 percent cliff is back. That’s $63,840 for one person, $132,000 for a family of four. A dollar over and the subsidy is gone, so spend a few minutes getting your income estimate right.
Six things to check during ACA open enrollment
First, find out whether your insurer is still in your market. Carriers are leaving the marketplace in more than 20 states, and hundreds of thousands of people will have their plans terminated at the end of 2026. If that’s you, healthinsurance.org advises picking a new plan yourself by December 31 for a January 1 start, rather than letting an automated process choose.
Second, be wary of auto-renewal. Your plan may still be there, just pricier, and a better match could be a click away. Update your income while you’re at it. Using last year’s number can shortchange your subsidy now or leave you with a bill at tax time.
Third, look past the monthly premium. For a single person, the 2027 out-of-pocket maximum is $12,000, up from $10,600 this year. Pair a bargain premium with a big deductible and one bad year can cost you more than a pricier plan would have.
Fourth, confirm your doctors and prescriptions are covered. Provider networks and drug lists change from year to year, and the plan’s own directory is the place to check.
Fifth, look at HSA eligibility if you’re considering a high-deductible plan. The 2027 contribution limits are $4,500 for self-only coverage and $9,000 for family coverage, and Bronze and Catastrophic marketplace plans remain HSA-eligible. Catastrophic plans are harder to get for people 30 and older, who now need a hardship or affordability exemption certificate, so apply early if that’s your route.
Sixth, immigration rules changed. Starting with plan year 2027, only lawful permanent residents, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and migrants from the Compact of Free Association states can get marketplace subsidies. Asylees, refugees and people on temporary status can’t. If that touches your household, talk to a navigator before you pick anything.
Avoiding ACA open enrollment scams
Fraudsters show up every enrollment season. The FTC’s alert describes the playbook: lookalike sites dressed up as government pages, paid ads parked above the real results, and products pitched as insurance that aren’t. So type the official address yourself, skip anything marked sponsored and look for .gov. If you’d rather talk to a person, HealthCare.gov’s Find Local Help tool is free, and the phone line is 800-318-2596. If you’re 65 or older, our guide to Medicare open enrollment for 2027 is the better read.
What to watch next
The ACA open enrollment calendar itself could shift in later years. A federal judge vacated a rule that would have shortened open enrollment, HHS has appealed, and oral arguments are set for late October, according to healthinsurance.org. For now, the November 1 to January 15 schedule stands for 2027 coverage. This article is general information, not financial or insurance advice, and the details of your own eligibility depend on your state, income and household.
Editor’s take
Treating renewal as a formality is the easy mistake this year. A median 15 percent increase, carrier exits and a hard subsidy cliff mean last year’s plan may not be the best one for 2027, even if the marketplace pre-selects it. Block out an hour in November for ACA open enrollment. Update your income, price two or three alternatives and decide for yourself before the December 15 deadline. Most of the savings, and most of the risk, live in that one choice.
