Open enrollment for 2027 Affordable Care Act health plans begins Sunday, Nov. 1. It will be the second year of marketplace coverage without the enhanced federal premium help that expired at the end of 2025, which makes comparing plans and updating income more important than usual.
The dates, income limits and free help options below come from HealthCare.gov, the federal marketplace, and from KFF’s guide to 2027 subsidies. Here is what to know before you log in.
What are the key open enrollment dates for 2027 coverage?
For states that use HealthCare.gov, including Florida, the federal marketplace lists these deadlines:
- Nov. 1, 2026: open enrollment starts. You can enroll, renew or change plans for 2027.
- Dec. 15, 2026: last day to pick a plan for coverage that starts Jan. 1.
- Jan. 15, 2027: open enrollment ends. Plans chosen Dec. 16 through Jan. 15 start Feb. 1, once you pay your first premium.
- After Jan. 15: you can enroll or change plans only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, for example after losing other coverage, moving, getting married or having a baby.
States that run their own marketplaces can set different dates. HealthCare.gov’s state page links to each one, and it notes one change for 2027: Oregon residents will enroll through ExploreHealthOR.gov starting Nov. 1 instead of HealthCare.gov.
Premium tax credits for 2027 are available to marketplace shoppers with household income between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level who do not have access to affordable job-based coverage and are not eligible for Medicare, Medicaid or CHIP, according to KFF.
The enhanced tax credits that let people above 400% of poverty get help, and capped what they paid at 8.5% of income, expired at the end of 2025, KFF notes. For 2027, the amount people are expected to pay toward a benchmark silver plan ranges from 2.15% of income for those below 133% of poverty to 10.22% for those between 300% and 400%.
Eligibility for 2027 savings is based on 2026 poverty guidelines. Using HealthCare.gov’s figures, the 400% cutoff works out to:
- $63,840 for one person
- $86,560 for a household of two
- $132,000 for a family of four
People above those amounts can still buy a marketplace plan but will not get a tax credit, so comparing prices carefully matters more this year.
What should current enrollees do before Dec. 15?
If you already have a marketplace plan, HealthCare.gov says to update your application with your expected 2027 income and household details, then compare plans. If you do nothing by Dec. 15, you may be automatically re-enrolled for Jan. 1, but your savings could be wrong. Too little and you are overpaying each month; too much and you may have to repay the difference at tax time.
Premiums, networks and drug lists change every year, so the plan you have now may not be the best value for 2027 even if it is still offered.
Where can I get free help enrolling?
- HealthCare.gov Call Center: 1-800-318-2596 (TTY 1-855-889-4325), open 24 hours a day, seven days a week except holidays, according to the contact page.
- Local help: the Find Local Help tool lets you search by city, state or ZIP code for trained assisters and brokers in your community.
- Preview plans: HealthCare.gov’s plan preview tool shows estimated prices and savings without creating an account.
- Document checklist: HealthCare.gov offers a printable checklist on its get-ready page covering the income, household and current coverage details you will need.
What about Medicare and Medicaid?
People eligible for Medicare generally cannot get marketplace tax credits, KFF notes. Medicare has its own open enrollment, which ends Dec. 7, and HNC’s Medicare checklist walks through what to review.
Medicaid and CHIP have no open enrollment period: HealthCare.gov says you can apply any time if you qualify. Marketplace rules are also set to tighten later. HNC has reported on a CMS proposed rule that would make enrollees verify eligibility before getting subsidies, starting with 2028 coverage.
Key Takeaways
- ACA open enrollment for 2027 runs Nov. 1, 2026, to Jan. 15, 2027, on HealthCare.gov; pick a plan by Dec. 15 for Jan. 1 coverage.
- Tax credits for 2027 are limited to households between 100% and 400% of poverty, about $63,840 for one person or $132,000 for a family of four.
- Current enrollees should update their income and compare plans rather than rely on automatic re-enrollment.
- Free help is available at 1-800-318-2596 and through HealthCare.gov’s Find Local Help tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is ACA open enrollment for 2027?
On HealthCare.gov it runs from Nov. 1, 2026, through Jan. 15, 2027. Enroll by Dec. 15 for coverage starting Jan. 1. State-run marketplaces may set different dates.
Can I get a subsidy if I earn more than 400% of the poverty level?
Not for 2027. The enhanced tax credits that extended help above 400% of poverty expired at the end of 2025, according to KFF.
What income counts as 400% of poverty for 2027 coverage?
Based on 2026 poverty guidelines, it is $63,840 for one person, $86,560 for two and $132,000 for a family of four.
Will I be automatically re-enrolled?
You may be automatically re-enrolled if you do nothing by Dec. 15, but HealthCare.gov says you should update your application so you get the right amount of savings.
Where can I get free enrollment help?
Call the HealthCare.gov Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 (TTY 1-855-889-4325) or use the Find Local Help tool at localhelp.healthcare.gov.
Featured image: A doctor types notes during a patient consultation. Illustrative photo. (Photo by Shixart1985, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
