Open Enrollment 2027: What You Need to Know

The dates: November 1 to December 15, 2026

Open Enrollment for 2027 marketplace plans runs from November 1, 2026 through December 15, 2026 on HealthCare.gov and all state exchanges on the federal platform. That is six and a half weeks, down from the roughly eleven weeks that most enrollees had in recent years (when OE ran through January 15).

State-based exchanges can keep enrollment open up to December 31 but cannot go past that date. The federal rule caps the window at nine calendar weeks for all exchanges and prohibits enrollment periods that extend into the coverage year.

If you miss the December 15 deadline on HealthCare.gov, you will not be able to enroll until the following year unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period through a life event like losing other coverage, moving, getting married, or having a baby.

Why the window got shorter

CMS finalized the 2025 Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Rule in mid-2025, which shortened the federal OE period starting with plan year 2027. The agency cited concerns about adverse selection and wanted to align the marketplace calendar more closely with how employer plan enrollment works. CMS estimated these changes would lower individual health insurance premiums by about 5% on average.

Critics argue the shorter window will cause some people to miss enrollment entirely. CMS acknowledged that up to 1.8 million people could lose coverage as a result of the broader rule changes.

What's new for 2027 plans

Several changes in the proposed 2027 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters could affect the plans available to you:

Auto-renewal is ending. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), everyone receiving premium tax credits will need to actively reenroll each year. Auto-renewal is being phased out. In 2025, over 11 million people enrolled through auto-renewal, more than half of all returning enrollees. Starting with 2027 plans, you must log in, verify your information, and actively select a plan. If you do nothing, you may lose your subsidy or your coverage entirely.

Non-network plans may appear. CMS has proposed allowing plans without provider networks to be sold on the marketplace starting in 2027. These plans do not contract with specific doctors or hospitals. Instead, the plan sets a payment amount for each service. If your provider charges more, you pay the difference. Read plan details carefully if you see one of these.

Catastrophic plan changes. Out-of-pocket maximums for catastrophic plans would increase by roughly 30%, pushing the individual limit above $15,000 for 2027. These plans already have limited utility for most people, and this change makes them even less protective.

Adult dental removed from essential health benefits. CMS is proposing to prohibit insurers from including routine adult dental services as an essential health benefit. Pediatric dental is unchanged.

Reduced provider network requirements. The minimum percentage of Essential Community Providers that insurers must include in their networks would drop from 35% to 20%. This could result in narrower networks in some areas, particularly for safety-net providers.

How to prepare before November 1

With less time to shop during OE, preparation matters more than it used to. Here is what to do before the window opens:

Estimate your 2027 income now. Your subsidy is based on projected household income. Know your number before you start shopping. If you are near the 400% FPL subsidy cliff ($62,600 for a single person, $128,600 for a family of four), small income differences have outsized effects on your premium.

Review your current plan's 2027 costs. Even if you like your plan, the premium, deductible, and provider network can all change year to year. Plans that were cheap in 2026 may not be in 2027. Insurers file rate changes by the fall, and you will be able to see them once OE opens.

Check your doctors and prescriptions. Provider networks and drug formularies change annually. If you take specific medications or see specific doctors, verify they are still covered before picking a plan.

Create or update your HealthCare.gov account early. Password resets, identity verification, and account issues take time. Do not wait until November to find out your login does not work.

The risks of auto-renewal (while it still exists)

For the 2026 plan year, many people were still auto-renewed into their existing plans. But auto-renewal does not mean you got the best deal. Here is what goes wrong:

• Your plan may have raised its premium, but you would not know unless you logged in to check.
• The benchmark Silver plan in your area may have changed. Since your subsidy is calculated relative to the benchmark, your net premium can go up or down even if your plan's sticker price did not change.
• Your income from last year's application may be out of date. If your income changed and you did not update it, you could be getting too much or too little subsidy, which matters at tax time.

With the end of auto-renewal approaching for 2027, this will become mandatory anyway. You will have to shop actively. It is better to build that habit now.

Should you switch plans or stay?

It depends on two things: whether your current plan changed, and whether a different plan would save you money.

Every year, the lowest-cost Silver plan and lowest-cost Bronze plan in your county may come from a different insurer. Since the benchmark plan determines your subsidy, switching to the new lowest-cost Silver can sometimes get you a plan for $0 or close to it.

On the other hand, switching plans means new provider networks and possibly new formularies. If you are in the middle of treatment or have a specialist you depend on, check whether that provider is in-network on the new plan before switching.

The right move is to compare both options. Log in, look at what your current plan costs for 2027, and compare it against at least two or three alternatives.

Updating your income matters more than ever

Starting with the 2026 plan year, there is no cap on how much excess subsidy you have to repay at tax time. In previous years, repayment was limited to $375-$3,250 depending on income and filing status. That safety net is gone.

If you underestimate your income when enrolling for 2027 and earn more than expected, you will owe back every dollar of excess subsidy when you file your taxes. And if your income crosses 400% FPL, the cliff means you owe back the entire subsidy, not just the excess above the line.

Be conservative with your income estimate. If you are unsure, it is better to estimate slightly high and get a larger refund than to estimate low and face a surprise tax bill.

Check your estimated subsidy

Use the calculator below to see what you might qualify for under the current rules. This can help you plan your budget before OE opens.