ACA Open Enrollment for 2027: The New Dec 15 Deadline (and What Else Changed)

If you buy your own health insurance through HealthCare.gov, open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from November 1 to December 15, 2026, and that’s it. The old January 15 extension is gone, so the deadline that used to feel like a soft suggestion is now the real one. State-run exchanges set their own dates within new federal limits, so if you’re not on HealthCare.gov, check your state’s deadline now.

What changed: the shorter window

For the past several years, HealthCare.gov’s open enrollment ran from November 1 to January 15. If you picked a plan by December 15, coverage started January 1. If you picked one between December 16 and January 15, coverage started February 1. A lot of people treated that January window as their real deadline.

For 2027 coverage, that’s over. Under the federal Marketplace Integrity and Affordability rule, open enrollment on HealthCare.gov is November 1 through December 15, 2026. Every plan picked during open enrollment starts January 1, 2027. There’s no second chance in January for February coverage.

That gives you six and a half weeks, and the last two overlap with the holidays. If you usually wait until the final weekend, plan to be done earlier this year, because a lot of other people will be trying to log in at the same time.

Key dates at a glance

Here’s how the deadlines line up as of late October 2026. State exchange dates vary, so treat that row as the federal limits, not your actual deadline.

What else changed for 2027

The shorter window is the headline, but it isn’t the only change. Several others are reasons to actively shop this year instead of letting your plan roll over.

Premiums are rising, and subsidies are smaller

The enhanced premium subsidies that many people relied on expired after 2025. On top of that, healthinsurance.org reports a median proposed 2027 rate increase of roughly 15% for individual-market plans, with wide variation by state. Final rates may differ from what insurers proposed.

Subsidies are still tied to the benchmark plan, which is the second-lowest-cost Silver plan in your area. If you get a subsidy, part of the increase may be absorbed for you. If you don’t, you pay the full increase. A few states are partly filling the gap with their own money. Rhode Island budgeted state funds, and Virginia launched a Virginia Premium Savings program for people at roughly 138–250% of the federal poverty level. If you’re worried about a big jump, our worst-case cost calculator helps you see a plan’s full yearly cost, not just the premium.

Some insurers are leaving

Insurers are exiting the Marketplace in more than 20 states for 2027. If your insurer is leaving, your plan will be discontinued and you’ll get a notice. If you do nothing, auto-renewal will put you in a replacement plan chosen by an algorithm. That plan may not include your doctors or cover your prescriptions the same way. Even if your insurer is staying, don’t treat this as a year to skip.

Higher out-of-pocket ceiling, broader HSA eligibility

The 2027 out-of-pocket maximum is $12,000 for self-only coverage, up from $10,600 in 2026. That’s the most an in-network plan can make you pay for covered care in a year, and your plan’s limit may be lower. Also new for 2027: every Bronze and Catastrophic plan on the Marketplace is HSA-eligible. The 2027 HSA contribution limits are $4,500 for self-only coverage and $9,000 for family coverage. Our Bronze + HSA vs. Silver comparison walks through how that trade-off works.

Catastrophic plans and your 30th birthday

Catastrophic plans are available if you’re under 30. If you’re 30 or older, you need a hardship or affordability exemption to buy one. If you’re about to cross that line, read our catastrophic plan guide.

Subsidy eligibility for some immigrants

Starting in 2027, Marketplace subsidy eligibility for immigrants is limited to Lawful Permanent Residents, Cuban/Haitian entrants and COFA migrants. If this could affect you or someone in your household, check the details on HealthCare.gov or talk with a certified Marketplace assister before you enroll.

A timeline for getting it done

You don’t need to spend weeks on this. You do need to start early enough that a password reset or a missing document doesn’t push you past December 15.

1. Now through October 31. Look for your renewal notice and any discontinuation letter from your insurer. Log in to your HealthCare.gov or state exchange account and make sure you can get in. Write down your current plan name, monthly premium, deductible and out-of-pocket maximum.
2. November 1–15. Update your application with your best estimate of 2027 income and any household changes. Then look at the plans and subsidy amounts you’re offered. Prices and subsidies change every year, so don’t assume last year’s numbers still apply.
3. Mid-November to early December. Narrow it down to two or three plans. Check that your doctors are in network and your prescriptions are on each plan’s drug list. Use our plan comparison worksheet to keep track.
4. By December 10 or so. Pick your plan and submit. This leaves a few days of buffer before the December 15 deadline for site slowdowns or questions.
5. After you enroll. Pay your first month’s premium by the insurer’s due date. Your coverage doesn’t take effect until that first payment goes through. Keep your confirmation and watch for your new ID card.

What to have ready before you log in

Most delays come from hunting for information halfway through the application. Gather these first:

• A 2027 income estimate for everyone in your tax household. Include wages, self-employment income, unemployment and other taxable income. Your subsidy is based on this number.
• Household details: who you’ll claim on your 2027 tax return, plus birth dates and Social Security numbers (or immigration document numbers) for everyone applying.
• Your current plan details: plan name, insurer, premium, deductible and out-of-pocket maximum, so you can compare against new options.
• Your doctors and prescriptions: names of the providers you want to keep and the exact names and doses of medications you take.
• Job-based coverage info if anyone in your household was offered insurance through an employer. That offer can affect subsidy eligibility.
• Your login credentials and access to the email or phone number tied to your account.

If you miss the deadline: the Special Enrollment Period safety net

If December 15 passes and you haven’t enrolled (or your state’s deadline passes), you generally can’t get a Marketplace plan for 2027 unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Common qualifying events include:

• Losing other health coverage, such as a job-based plan, COBRA ending, or aging off a parent’s plan
• Moving to a new ZIP code or county where different plans are offered
• Getting married
• Having a baby, adopting a child or placing a child in foster care

Special Enrollment Periods have their own deadlines, often 60 days from the event, and you may need to provide documents. Choosing to drop coverage on your own, or just forgetting, usually doesn’t qualify. If you’re leaving a job, our guides on insurance when you quit and COBRA vs. the Marketplace explain your options.

Rules and dates can change, and state exchanges vary. Confirm your deadline and options with your state’s exchange or a certified Marketplace assister before making decisions.

Frequently asked questions