Dates & Deadlines for 2027 Health Insurance

Open Enrollment for 2027 health plans starts November 1st, 2026.

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Important dates to note:

November 1st, 2026: Open Enrollment starts - first day you can enroll, re-enroll, or change a 2027 insurance plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Coverage can start as soon as January 1, 2027.

December 15th, 2026: Last day to enroll in or change plans for coverage to start January 1, 2027.

January 15th, 2027: Last day to enroll in or change plans for coverage to start February 1st, 2027.

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Need coverage outside of open enrollment?

You can still get health coverage if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period due to a qualifying life event - like getting married, losing other coverage, or having a baby. Find out if you qualify.

Apply for a Special Enrollment Period

Don't qualify for a special enrollment period? Need less coverage? We've got you covered. 

Short Term Coverage

Apply for a short-term plan for the part of the rest of the year, or start one on January 1st. These plans are less expensive than many individual ACA plans but do not cover some of the essential health benefits such as maternity coverage. These plans are your best option if you don't currently qualify for a special enrollment period. 

Catastrophic Health Plan Quotes

Medicaid & CHIP – apply any time

There’s no limited enrollment period for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). You can apply any time.

What is different for 2027

• Smaller subsidies. The enhanced premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025. For 2027 coverage, tax credits are again limited to households with incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, and most people who do qualify pay a larger share of their income. See Are Subsidies Going Away in 2027?
• No federal tax penalty. There has been no federal penalty for going without health insurance since 2019. California, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island have their own coverage requirements and can charge a penalty at tax time. Vermont also requires coverage but does not charge a penalty.
• Filing taxes still matters. If you get advance premium tax credits, you must file a federal tax return and reconcile them. See If I don't file a federal income tax return, can I still get a subsidy in 2027?

What are your health insurance options?

Depending on your situation, you have the following options:

Renew your current policy

During open enrollment, you can keep your current health insurance as long as it's still offered. You may not have to do anything if you want to keep what you have. But your current plan may be changing. Watch the mail for a letter about any changes your plan intends to make in 2027.

Changes might not be acceptable to you. For instance, your doctor could be leaving the network or your drugs won't be part of its list of covered medications. You want to look for a plan that better suits your needs. If you need to switch, open enrollment is the time.

Buy an individual policy through a marketplace or directly from an insurance provider

You may want to sign up on the marketplace exchange in your state. That includes if you qualify for tax subsidies to help you pay your premiums. Qualifying depends on your family size and income. To qualify, your family income must fall between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL).

Based on this formula, for 2027 coverage for a family of four, the income bracket between 100% and 400% is $33,000 to $132,000. If you or your family are under 400% of the federal poverty level, you can find subsidized health coverage. Forty states and the District of Columbia have expanded Medicaid. Those states let people with incomes 138% of the federal poverty level to get Medicaid. That's a low-cost option that provides full health coverage. 

Make changes to your employer-based group health insurance

If you get your health insurance through your employer, the open enrollment period for the government-run marketplaces and Affordable Care Act plans won't affect you.

You need to sign up for coverage during your employer's open enrollment period. Some employers will automatically renew the plan you had this year. Others require that you sign up each year during its open enrollment. Employers often change health insurance providers, so make sure you review your offerings. It likely changed since last year. Ask your employer its rules so you know what you have to do.

Change your Medicare plan

If you are enrolled in Medicare and want to make a change in your plan – such as switching to Medicare Advantage (Part C) or adding prescription drug coverage (Part D) – you must sign up during its open enrollment period.

Medicare open enrollment is Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, and coverage starts Jan. 1. Again, open enrollment for the government-run marketplaces doesn't affect you.

Buy a short-term health plan

Short-term health insurance plans can be bought any time of year, and you do not need a qualifying life event. In many states you can get an initial term of up to 12 months, renewable for up to 36 months. Some states limit short-term plans to a few months or do not allow them at all. See What States Can I Get a Year-Long Short Term Health Plan In 2027?

These plans aren't nearly as generous as ACA plans. They don't have to cover basic services, such as maternity, prescription and mental health. So, you need to dig into a plan's specific coverage before going with a short-term plan. 

A benefit of short-term insurance plans is that they're much cheaper than other plans. However, they don't offer as much coverage so you may get stuck paying with more or all of healthcare costs for some services.