Health insurance open enrollment 2027 dates

• Dec 15last day on HealthCare.gov to pick a plan that starts January 1, 2027
• Jan 29Virginia closes open enrollment, the latest date among the states I serve
• 23.1Mpeople picked a marketplace plan for 2026, according to CMS

The HealthCare.gov calendar

Florida, Texas and most of the other states I work in use HealthCare.gov. These are the dates HealthCare.gov publishes for 2027 coverage:

• November 1, 2026Open enrollment starts. First day to enroll, renew or change plans for 2027.
• December 15, 2026Last day to enroll or change plans for coverage that starts January 1, 2027.
• January 1, 2027Coverage starts for people who enrolled by December 15 and paid their first premium.
• January 15, 2027Open enrollment ends. After this you need a Special Enrollment Period.
• February 1, 2027Coverage starts for people who enrolled December 16 through January 15.

State exchanges with their own dates

Roughly 20 states and DC run their own exchange and set their own calendar. Here are the ones among the states I'm licensed in. I checked each against the exchange itself where it has published 2027 dates.

Where the exchange had not posted a separate January 1 cutoff when I checked, I list December 15 as the safe date. Confirm on your exchange before you count on a later one.

Virginia has the longest window of any state I work in, two weeks past everyone else. Virginia also adds its own help for 2027. Virginia Premium Savings is a new state subsidy for incomes from 138 to 250 percent of the poverty line. Maryland is the other outlier, since you can enroll as late as December 31 and still start January 1.

Not sure which system your state uses? My state by state page links to each state I cover.

What to do before November 1

The weeks before open enrollment are when the good decisions get made. Here is my short list:

• Read every letter from your insurer. Some carriers are leaving for 2027. Cigna is exiting the individual market in all 11 states where it sells, including Florida, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina and Colorado. If you got a notice, read what happens when your carrier leaves.
• Build an honest 2027 income estimate. Starting with 2026 coverage there is no cap on paying back excess tax credits, per the IRS. If you underestimate, you repay all of it at tax time.
• List your doctors and prescriptions. Networks change every year. Check them against any new plan, even a plan with the same name.
• Know where you sit against the cliff. For 2027 coverage, 400 percent of the poverty line is $63,840 for one person and $132,000 for a family of four. See how the cliff works.
• Expect higher prices. KFF found insurers proposing a median increase of about 15 percent for 2027. Auto renewal will keep you covered, but rarely on the best plan.

What happens if you miss open enrollment

After January 15 (January 29 in Virginia), you can only enroll in an ACA plan, on or off the exchange, if you have a qualifying life event. That includes losing other coverage, moving, getting married or having a baby, and it usually gives you 60 days. Here is how special enrollment works, and if you are leaving a job, read my guide to coverage between jobs.

If you have no qualifying event, your options narrow. In many states short term medical plans can bridge the gap. They are cheaper, but they can decline you for health history, exclude pre-existing conditions and cap benefits. Rules differ by state, and they are not sold in Colorado or Illinois. They are a bridge, not a plan for the long haul.

If you are already enrolled and do nothing, most people are automatically renewed into the same plan or a similar one. That keeps you covered, but your price, your subsidy and your network can all change without you noticing.

Do you need a broker to enroll?

No. You can enroll directly on HealthCare.gov or your state exchange for free. That said, CMS reports that 76 percent of active HealthCare.gov plan selections for 2026 were made with help from an agent or broker, and that help costs you nothing because carriers pay us. If your situation is simple and the subsidy covers most of the bill, going direct is completely fine. I'm Carson Hornish, and I'm happy to check your plan either way. Here is why broker help is free.

Common questions