ACA Open Enrollment 2027 Dates: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has confirmed the ACA open enrollment 2027 dates for the federal marketplace, closing months of uncertainty caused by a rule change that was proposed, challenged in court, and ultimately vacated. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage will run from November 1, 2026, through January 15, 2027, on HealthCare.gov, the same window shoppers have used in recent years. That confirmation came in early August 2026, after a federal judge blocked a 2025 rule that would have shortened the window to end on December 15. Millions of enrollees who feared a compressed shopping period now have the full 76-day window back, though several state-run exchanges still operate on their own separate calendars. We’ll be updating this article monthly as state exchanges finalize their own schedules and as final 2027 premium rates are approved.
The bigger story behind the calendar is what enrollees will find when they log in to shop. Insurers have filed for a median premium increase of 15 percent for 2027, according to KFF’s analysis of 276 insurers across every state and the District of Columbia. That follows a median finalized increase of 20 percent for 2026, meaning marketplace premiums will have climbed by more than a third in just two years. The driver is the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits at the end of 2025, which pushed healthier and younger enrollees out of the risk pool and left insurers pricing coverage for an older, sicker group of remaining customers. For anyone shopping this fall, the practical question is no longer just when to enroll but how much help they will actually qualify for under the restored income rules. That is where a subsidy calculator becomes essential before you pick a plan.
ACA Open Enrollment 2027 Key Highlights
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Open enrollment start date | November 1, 2026 (most states) |
| Open enrollment end date | January 15, 2027 (HealthCare.gov states) |
| Deadline for January 1, 2027 coverage | December 15, 2026 |
| Coverage start for late enrollees | February 1, 2027 (enrolled December 16 to January 15) |
| Early state exchange openings | Idaho (October 15), Georgia (October 19), Massachusetts (October 23) |
| States with independent exchange calendars | 23 states plus Washington, D.C. run state-based exchanges |
| Median 2027 premium increase (proposed) | 15 percent, per KFF analysis of 276 insurers |
| 2026 federal poverty level, single person | $15,960 |
| 2026 federal poverty level, family of four | $33,000 |
| 400 percent FPL cutoff for subsidies, family of four | $132,000 |
| Enhanced premium tax credits | Expired December 31, 2025, not renewed by Congress |
Why the ACA Open Enrollment 2027 Dates Kept Changing
The back and forth over the 2027 schedule started with a Marketplace Integrity and Affordability rule finalized by CMS in June 2025. That rule would have cut the federal open enrollment window down to end on December 15 instead of January 15, and it capped how long state exchanges could stay open as well. Several state marketplaces began adjusting their own deadlines in anticipation of the shorter federal calendar, creating a confusing patchwork heading into the 2026 shopping season.
A federal judge vacated that shortening rule in June 2026, ruling that the agency had not followed proper procedure in cutting the window. Several states that had already announced compressed schedules reversed course once the ruling came down. CMS confirmed in early August 2026 that HealthCare.gov states would keep the traditional November 1 to January 15 schedule for 2027 coverage, restoring the longer shopping period that had been standard since the ACA marketplace launched. Enrollees should still confirm their own state’s deadline directly, since a small number of state-based exchanges retained earlier closing dates even after the court ruling, and the schedule for the 2028 season remains subject to further appeals.
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What Is ACA Open Enrollment?
Open enrollment is the single annual period when anyone can sign up for, switch, or drop a marketplace health plan without needing a special reason. Outside that window, ACA-compliant coverage is only available through a special enrollment period, which is triggered by a qualifying life event such as losing job-based coverage, getting married, having a baby, or moving to a new coverage area. Special enrollment periods generally give applicants 60 days from the life event to select a plan, and missing that 60-day window usually means waiting for the next annual open enrollment.
For most shoppers, the annual window is the only realistic opportunity to compare plans, switch carriers, or correct an outdated subsidy estimate that carried over from auto-renewal. Financial advisers and enrollment counselors consistently point out that relying on automatic re-enrollment is rarely the best move, since an algorithm-selected plan may not reflect a household’s current income, medications, or preferred doctors. Reviewing your application fresh each year, rather than letting the system roll over last year’s numbers, is especially important now that the return of the income cap on subsidies makes accuracy near the cutoff worth real money.
State by State: Where the ACA Open Enrollment 2027 Dates Differ
Most of the country follows the HealthCare.gov calendar, but 23 states plus Washington, D.C. run their own exchanges and can set different dates. The chart below reflects the most current confirmed schedules as of this update; a handful of states had not finalized their exact closing date at publication time.
| State or Exchange Type | 2027 Open Enrollment Window |
|---|---|
| HealthCare.gov states (most states) | November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 |
| Idaho | Opens October 15, 2026 |
| Georgia | Opens October 19, 2026 |
| Massachusetts | Opens October 23, 2026 |
| California | Extended window, typically through January 31 |
| New York | Extended window, typically through January 31 |
| District of Columbia | Follows extended state-based schedule |
| Other state-based exchanges | Vary; confirm directly with your state marketplace |
How to Apply for ACA Coverage During Open Enrollment 2027?
Applying through HealthCare.gov or a state exchange follows a similar process nationwide, though the exact screens and required documents differ slightly by state marketplace.
- Create or log in to your HealthCare.gov account, or your state exchange account if your state runs its own marketplace.
- Update your household information, including income, family size, and any changes since last year, since these figures drive your subsidy amount.
- Compare available plans by metal tier (bronze, silver, gold, platinum), checking premiums, deductibles, and whether your current doctors and prescriptions are covered.
- Apply your projected premium tax credit to see your actual monthly cost after assistance, rather than the sticker price.
- Select a plan and confirm enrollment before your state’s deadline, then make your first premium payment so coverage actually takes effect.
- Save your confirmation number and set a reminder to review your application again before next year’s open enrollment.
Households near the income cutoff should be especially careful when entering projected income, since an estimate that turns out too low can trigger a repayment obligation at tax time, while an estimate that is too high can mean paying more out of pocket during the year than necessary.
Processing Time and Coverage Start Dates
Coverage timing depends entirely on when you complete your enrollment and pay your first premium. Enroll by December 15, 2026, and coverage begins January 1, 2027. Enroll between December 16, 2026, and January 15, 2027, and coverage instead begins February 1, 2027. Applicants who qualify for a special enrollment period outside the standard window generally see coverage start on the first day of the month after they enroll. There is no faster processing track for marketplace plans; the effective date is fixed by the enrollment date itself, not by how quickly the marketplace processes the application.
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ACA Subsidy Calculator: Estimate Your 2027 Premium Tax Credit
Because the enhanced premium tax credits expired and were not renewed, premium tax credits for 2027 coverage go back to the original ACA formula, which uses a sliding scale tied to your income as a percentage of the federal poverty level. Marketplace subsidy eligibility for 2027 coverage will be calculated using the 2026 federal poverty guidelines once open enrollment opens in November, since the marketplace always uses the prior year’s guidelines to calculate the coming year’s subsidies.
ACA Subsidy Calculator: Estimate Your 2027 Premium Tax Credit
Enter your household size, projected 2027 income, and the benchmark Silver plan premium in your area to estimate your monthly premium tax credit. This tool uses the 2026 federal poverty guidelines, which the marketplace applies to 2027 coverage.
This is an estimate for planning purposes only, not an official eligibility determination. Confirm your exact subsidy on HealthCare.gov or your state marketplace once you apply. Alaska and Hawaii use higher poverty guidelines; this tool applies commonly published estimates for those states and may not reflect the exact HHS figures for the current year.
For readers who want to understand the math behind the tool above, or who want to double check it by hand, follow these steps to estimate your own subsidy before you shop:
Step 1: Find your household income as a percentage of the federal poverty level. Divide your projected 2027 household income by the FPL amount for your household size.
Step 2: Locate your applicable percentage using the table below. This is the share of income you are expected to contribute toward the benchmark silver plan.
| Income as Percent of FPL | Expected Contribution (Approximate Share of Income) |
|---|---|
| 100% to 150% | 0% to 2%, subsidy covers nearly all of benchmark premium |
| 150% to 200% | 2% to 4% |
| 200% to 250% | 4% to 6% |
| 250% to 300% | 6% to 8.5% |
| 300% to 400% | 8.5% to 9.96% |
| Above 400% | No premium tax credit under current law |
Step 3: Multiply your household income by the applicable percentage to get your expected annual contribution toward the benchmark silver plan.
Step 4: Subtract your expected contribution from the actual cost of the benchmark silver plan in your area. The difference is your estimated annual premium tax credit, which can be applied to any metal tier plan, not only silver.
Worked example: a single applicant projecting $28,000 in 2027 income falls at roughly 175 percent of the 2026 FPL of $15,960. At that income band, the expected contribution runs close to 3 percent of income, or about $840 a year. If the benchmark silver plan in that applicant's area costs $6,200 a year, the estimated premium tax credit would be roughly $5,360 annually, or close to $447 a month, applied automatically to lower the monthly bill.
Worked example: a family of four projecting $130,000 in 2027 income sits just above the 400 percent FPL mark of $132,000 only if income climbs slightly higher, but at $130,000 the family remains just under the cliff at around 394 percent of FPL, and would be expected to contribute close to 9.96 percent of income, or about $12,948 a year, toward the benchmark plan. Any premium above that contribution level would be covered by the tax credit. A family whose income lands even one dollar over 400 percent FPL would receive no premium tax credit at all under the reinstated cliff, which is why households hovering near that line should double check projected income carefully before open enrollment closes.
This calculator gives a close estimate, not a guaranteed dollar figure. Your exact credit depends on the specific benchmark silver plan available in your county, your age, tobacco use in some states, and household composition. Confirm your actual amount using the official calculators listed in the resources table below once open enrollment opens.
Federal Poverty Level Guidelines Used for Subsidy Eligibility
| Household Size | 2026 Federal Poverty Level | 400% of FPL (Subsidy Cutoff) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $15,960 | $63,840 |
| 2 people | $21,640 | $86,560 |
| 3 people | $27,320 | $109,280 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $132,000 |
| Each additional person | + $5,680 | + $22,720 |
Alaska and Hawaii use separate, higher poverty guidelines, so households in those states should use their state specific figures rather than the continental United States chart above.
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Why Premiums Are Rising Again
Insurers across the country are proposing a second consecutive year of double-digit rate increases. KFF's review of 276 insurers found a median proposed increase of 15 percent for 2027, following a finalized median increase of 20 percent for 2026. Some states are seeing far steeper requests. Washington insurers filed for an average increase of 22.4 percent, the highest statewide request tracked so far. New York saw at least one major insurer request a 52 percent increase. Ohio's remaining marketplace insurers are proposing an average 14.7 percent increase.
Insurers point to three main factors driving the increases: rising underlying medical and prescription drug costs, including the growing use of GLP-1 medications; a shrinking and increasingly higher-cost risk pool after healthier enrollees dropped coverage once the enhanced tax credits expired; and continued uncertainty about federal policy heading into another enrollment season. States with the steepest enrollment declines after the 2026 subsidy cliff, such as Georgia, are seeing insurers price in an even sicker remaining population, which tends to push next year's rates higher still.
Most subsidized enrollees are partially shielded from these increases because their tax credit adjusts alongside the benchmark plan price. The people most exposed are those earning above 400 percent of the federal poverty level, who receive no premium tax credit at all and will feel the full weight of a 15 percent or higher rate hike out of pocket.
Official ACA Marketplace Resources
| Resource | Purpose | Official Link |
|---|---|---|
| HealthCare.gov | Apply, browse plans, and enroll | https://www.healthcare.gov |
| HealthCare.gov login | Access an existing marketplace account | https://www.healthcare.gov/log-in-out/ |
| Application status check | Check the status of a submitted application | https://www.healthcare.gov/apply-and-enroll/track-your-application-status/ |
| Dates and deadlines | Official open enrollment calendar | https://www.healthcare.gov/quick-guide/dates-and-deadlines/ |
| Special enrollment periods | Check qualifying life events | https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage-outside-open-enrollment/special-enrollment-period/ |
| KFF subsidy calculator | Independent premium and subsidy estimator | https://www.kff.org/interactive/subsidy-calculator/ |
| Federal poverty guidelines | Official HHS poverty level figures | https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines |
FAQs About ACA Open Enrollment 2027 Dates
When does ACA open enrollment 2027 start?
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage starts November 1, 2026, in most states, with a few state-based exchanges opening slightly earlier in October.
When is the last day to enroll for January 1, 2027 coverage?
December 15, 2026, is the deadline to enroll or change plans if you want coverage to begin January 1, 2027.
When does ACA open enrollment 2027 end?
Open enrollment ends January 15, 2027, on HealthCare.gov and in most states, though some state-based exchanges run longer.
What happens if I miss the open enrollment deadline?
You generally cannot enroll in a marketplace plan until the next annual open enrollment unless you qualify for a special enrollment period triggered by a life event such as losing coverage, marriage, or the birth of a child.
Are ACA subsidies still available for 2027 coverage?
Yes, but only under the original ACA rules. The enhanced premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025 and were not renewed, so subsidies are limited to households between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level, with no assistance above that cutoff.
Why are 2027 premiums going up again?
Insurers are requesting a median 15 percent increase due to rising medical costs and a smaller, higher-cost risk pool left behind after the enhanced tax credits expired and healthier enrollees dropped coverage.
How do I estimate my 2027 subsidy before open enrollment opens?
Use the applicable percentage table and formula in the subsidy calculator section above, or check an independent calculator once official 2027 plan pricing is loaded into the marketplace tools.
Can I change my plan every year during open enrollment?
Yes, open enrollment is designed specifically so you can switch carriers, change metal tiers, or drop coverage entirely without needing a special reason.
Is ACA open enrollment the same in every state?
No. Most states follow the HealthCare.gov schedule of November 1 to January 15, but 23 states plus Washington, D.C. run their own exchanges and some set different opening or closing dates.
What is the subsidy cliff and does it apply in 2027?
The subsidy cliff is the point at which a household earning above 400 percent of the federal poverty level loses all premium tax credit eligibility. It returned in 2026 after the enhanced credits expired and remains in effect for 2027 coverage.
Do I need to reapply every year even if I like my current plan?
You are not required to, since auto-renewal is available in every state, but reviewing and resubmitting your application each year is strongly recommended so your subsidy reflects your current income and household size.
What documents do I need to apply for ACA coverage?
You generally need Social Security numbers for household members, proof of income such as pay stubs or tax returns, and immigration documents for any non-citizen household members applying for coverage.
How much will a benchmark silver plan cost in 2027?
The exact cost varies by county and insurer, but with a median proposed increase of 15 percent nationwide, most households should expect a noticeably higher sticker price than in 2026 before any subsidy is applied.
Conclusion
The ACA open enrollment 2027 dates are now locked in for most of the country, running November 1, 2026, through January 15, 2027, after months of legal back and forth over a proposed shorter window. What has not settled down is the cost side of the equation, with insurers requesting a second straight year of double-digit premium increases and the reinstated 400 percent income cliff cutting off subsidies for higher earning households entirely. Anyone shopping this fall should treat the subsidy calculator in this guide as a starting point, confirm the exact numbers using the official marketplace tools once enrollment opens, and avoid relying on auto-renewal without at least reviewing the new pricing first.
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