Open Enrollment 2027: Key Dates, Deadlines, and How to Enroll

Updated for the 2027 plan year (October 2026). Dates reflect federal HealthCare.gov rules; a few state exchanges set later deadlines.

What is Open Enrollment?

Open Enrollment is the one time each year when anyone can buy, switch, or drop a health plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace without needing a qualifying life event. During this window, insurers must accept you regardless of health history, and you cannot be charged more or turned away for a pre-existing condition.

It applies to individual and family plans bought through HealthCare.gov or a state exchange — not to job-based coverage, which has its own enrollment period set by your employer. If you buy your own health insurance, this is your window. You can confirm the official dates any time at HealthCare.gov.

Open Enrollment exists so insurers cannot cherry-pick only healthy customers. Because everyone shops in the same fixed window, carriers must take all applicants and spread risk across a broad pool. That is what keeps pre-existing conditions covered and premiums predictable. The trade-off is simple: outside this window, your options narrow sharply, so the calendar genuinely matters. Whether you are self-employed, between jobs, an early retiree under 65, or simply shopping for a better deal, Open Enrollment is the moment the full market opens to you with no questions asked about your health.

Open Enrollment 2027 dates & deadlines

For the 2027 plan year, Open Enrollment runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027 in states that use the federal platform. The single most important date is December 15, 2026: enroll by then and your coverage begins January 1, 2027. Enroll in the final month and coverage starts February 1, 2027.

A handful of state-run exchanges set their own, sometimes later, deadlines, so check your state’s site if you do not use HealthCare.gov. Texans can see every state-specific date in our Texas open enrollment 2027 guide. The federal timeline and coverage-start rules are published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at CMS.gov. If you already have a Marketplace plan and do nothing, you will usually be auto-renewed into the same or a similar plan for 2027 — but with premiums rising again, that is rarely your cheapest option.

Open enrollment timeline for 2027 coverage

The open enrollment timeline for 2027 coverage starts before November and doesn’t really end until you file your 2027 taxes in 2028. Here is every date that matters in HealthCare.gov states, from the first renewal notice to the final reconciliation of your subsidy. State-based exchanges can differ, so confirm with yours.

The core dates come straight from HealthCare.gov’s dates and deadlines page for 2027 coverage. One more reason to watch the timeline: starting with tax year 2026, the IRS no longer caps repayment of excess advance premium tax credits, so an accurate income estimate during open enrollment 2027 protects you at tax time in 2028.

Open enrollment 2027 in Florida

Florida uses HealthCare.gov, so open enrollment 2027 in Florida follows the same federal dates: November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027, with December 15, 2026 as the deadline for coverage starting January 1, 2027. Florida did not expand Medicaid, so Marketplace subsidies start at 100% of the poverty level, and children may qualify for Florida KidCare.

Florida shoppers have extra reasons to compare this year. Cigna is winding down its ACA Marketplace business at the end of 2026, including in Florida, and Sunshine State Health Plan’s Marketplace products are also being discontinued. If either one covers you now, choose a 2027 plan by December 15, 2026 for a January 1 start rather than accept whatever plan you’re moved into. See affordable health insurance in Florida for income limits and savings, and our Florida health insurance guide for carriers, Medicaid and local help.

What you can do during Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment is not just for first-timers. It is the one stretch each year when you have full control over your coverage. In this window you can:

• Enroll for the first time if you are currently uninsured or losing other coverage.
• Switch plans — move to a different metal tier, carrier, or network that fits next year better.
• Re-check your subsidy by updating your estimated 2027 income and household size, which can change your premium tax credit.
• Add or drop household members on your policy.
• Cancel coverage you no longer need.

Even if you like your current plan, re-checking during open enrollment 2027 matters. Premiums, networks, and drug formularies change every year, and your auto-renewed plan may no longer be the best value. With insurers proposing another round of double-digit increases for 2027, comparing is the difference between a manageable premium and a painful one.

What to have ready before you enroll

Gathering a few documents first makes enrollment fast and accurate. Your subsidy is only as good as the income estimate you give, so it pays to get the numbers right the first time. Before you log in, pull together:

• Your best estimate of 2027 household income — wages, self-employment profit, Social Security, and any other taxable income for everyone on the tax return.
• Household size — yourself, your spouse, and every dependent you will claim for 2027.
• Social Security numbers (or document numbers for lawfully present immigrants) for each person applying.
• Current plan details if you are renewing — your plan name, member ID, and this year’s premium so you can compare apples to apples.
• Your doctors and prescriptions — a short list lets you confirm each plan’s network and drug formulary before you commit.

Estimating income is where most people stumble. Your 2027 subsidy is reconciled on the 2027 tax return you file in 2028: if you earn more than you projected, you may have to repay part of your premium tax credit; if you earn less, you could be owed money back. Self-employed and gig workers should estimate conservatively and update the Marketplace mid-year if their income changes. Getting this one number right protects both your monthly premium and your tax refund.

How to enroll in Open Enrollment 2027 (step by step)

Enrolling during open enrollment 2027 takes most people about 20 to 30 minutes. Have your household income, Social Security numbers, and any current plan details handy before you start.

1. Create or log in to your account at HealthCare.gov or your state exchange.
2. Update your application — household size, your estimated 2027 income, and whether anyone has an offer of job-based coverage.
3. See your subsidy — the system instantly estimates your premium tax credit and any cost-sharing reductions.
4. Compare plans by metal tier, monthly premium, deductible, provider network, and drug coverage.
5. Enroll by your deadline and pay your first premium so coverage activates on the effective date.

Need unbiased help choosing? A licensed agent or assistant can walk through it with you at no extra cost — Marketplace prices are set by law and identical either way. See how Honesty.AI works for a guided, pressure-free comparison.

Why comparing matters more for 2027

The enhanced premium tax credits that lowered premiums from 2021 through 2025 expired on December 31, 2025 and were not extended. Subsidies still exist under the original ACA rules, but they are smaller, and the 400% federal-poverty-level “subsidy cliff” applies again for 2027 coverage — meaning higher earners who just cross that line can lose their credit entirely.

The practical effect showed up in 2026: many people’s renewal premiums jumped. Independent analysts at KFF found subsidized enrollees’ net premium payments more than doubled on average (about +114%). And 2027 brings no relief — KFF’s review of insurer filings found a median proposed increase of about 15% for 2027, the second straight year of double-digit hikes. Final rates vary by insurer and state, which is exactly why you should not auto-renew blindly. Many eligible shoppers still find low-cost plans after credits — but only if they compare. Learn the details in our guide to 2027 subsidies and the premium tax credit.

Comparing also means looking past the premium. Every Marketplace plan carries a metal tier that sets how you and the insurer split costs: Bronze plans pay about 60% of covered care, Silver about 70%, Gold about 80%, and Platinum about 90%. A low Bronze premium can cost more overall if you use a lot of care — and the 2027 out-of-pocket maximum rises to $12,000 for an individual ($24,000 for a family) — while Silver often unlocks extra cost-sharing reductions for lower incomes. Because rates and subsidy amounts change every year, the tier that was cheapest for you in 2026 may not be for 2027 — another reason to run a fresh comparison rather than renew on autopilot.

Missed the Open Enrollment deadline?

If January 15, 2027 passes and you did not enroll, you generally cannot buy a Marketplace plan until the next Open Enrollment in fall 2027 — unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). An SEP generally opens a 60-day window triggered by a qualifying life event, such as:

• Losing other coverage (job loss, aging off a parent’s plan at 26, or losing Medicaid)
• Moving to a new area with different plans
• Getting married or divorced
• Having a baby or adopting a child
• A change in income that newly qualifies you for subsidies

If any of these apply to you after January 15, do not wait — the clock is generally only 60 days. See our full guide to the Special Enrollment Period to check whether you qualify, and explore affordable health insurance options in the meantime.

Looking ahead: will the Open Enrollment deadline change?

You may have read that Open Enrollment would end on December 15 starting with 2027 coverage. A 2025 federal rule did call for that, but a federal court vacated the shorter deadline in June 2026, and CMS has confirmed the November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027 window for this season. The government has appealed, so a shorter window could return for 2028 coverage (fall 2027) at the earliest. Either way, the safe move is the same: treat December 15, 2026 as your real deadline for January 1 coverage.

Ready to compare plans for 2027? Use our step-by-step guide on how to shop for health insurance during Open Enrollment.

Frequently asked questions

Enrolling a whole household? Read our family health insurance guide to check CHIP, job-based coverage and tax credits for every family member first.

Medicare has its own Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7), separate from the Marketplace; see Medicaid vs Medicare for how the programs differ.

Keep learning: How the Health Insurance Marketplace works · 2027 subsidies explained · Special Enrollment Period · Affordable health insurance options