ACA Open Enrollment 2027: Dates, Premium Changes and What Happened to the Subsidies

For millions of Americans who buy their own health insurance, the 2027 enrollment season is arriving with a familiar problem: higher prices and less help paying them.

Open enrollment for ACA Marketplace plans began on November 1. This is the one time of year most people can choose, switch or renew a plan without a qualifying life event, and the deadline that matters first is December 15.

The dates that matter

• November 1, 2026: Open enrollment begins in most states.
• December 15, 2026: Last day to enroll for coverage that starts on January 1.
• January 15, 2027: Open enrollment ends on HealthCare.gov. Coverage chosen after December 15 starts later.

A federal rule that would have shortened the enrollment period to nine weeks was vacated in court, according to KFF, so the longer window stands. Some state-run marketplaces have different dates, so check your state's exchange. Medicare has its own separate enrollment period, from October 15 to December 7.

What is happening to premiums

Insurers proposed a median premium increase of 15% for 2027. KFF reported that the final average increase in benchmark silver plan premiums is 13%. In states that use HealthCare.gov the increase is about 11%, and in states that run their own marketplaces it is about 16%. That follows a 26% jump from 2025 to 2026, so benchmark premiums are up about 42% on average since 2025.

Insurers point to a higher-than-usual rise in the cost of care, which is also hitting employer plans. They also cite the end of the enhanced premium tax credits, which changed who stays in the market. KFF said insurers estimated that changes in the risk pool added about four percentage points to premiums in 2026 and expect a similar added effect in 2027.

What happened to the subsidies

The enhanced federal premium tax credits expired in 2026. Most enrollees still receive some subsidy, which cushions the increase. But people with incomes above 400% of the federal poverty level no longer qualify for premium tax credits at all and must pay the full price of coverage.

The effect on enrollment has been large. Plan selections during the 2026 enrollment period fell by 1.2 million, and by February, effectuated enrollment, meaning people who actually paid and stayed covered, was down 12% to 19.2 million. The Congressional Budget Office projects Marketplace enrollment will fall from a peak of 22.4 million in 2025 to 13.1 million in 2027.

Fewer insurers, in some places

As of October 29, 11 carriers had announced plans to leave at least one state for 2027, while seven planned to enter a new state, KFF said. Cigna is leaving the individual market in all 11 states where it currently sells plans. In some areas, consumers will have fewer choices of insurer and network.

Other changes to know about

• Repayment limits are gone. Starting with the 2026 tax year, caps on how much some enrollees must repay if they received too much subsidy were eliminated. Because the first tax filings under the new rules come in early 2027, many people will choose plans without having seen how it works. Estimating income accurately, and updating it when it changes, matters more than before.
• Medicaid work requirements. The law requires 43 states and Washington, D.C. to start Medicaid work requirements by January 1, 2027. People in those states who lose or are denied Medicaid only for not meeting the requirement will also be ineligible for subsidized Marketplace plans.
• Some immigrants lose subsidies. Premium tax credits are limited to green card holders, certain Cuban and Haitian entrants and residents under the Compact of Free Association. Refugees, asylees and others can still buy a plan but without subsidies.
• Fewer enrollment helpers. HHS said it cancelled coverage for about 760,000 people it called "phantom" enrollees signed up by brokers without their knowledge, and paused registration of new agents and brokers on the federal marketplace until February 2027. Navigator funding was also cut. KFF said there are reports that some of those whose coverage was cancelled have been reinstated.
• Court rulings. Several new federal rules are on hold. For 2027, people will not lose subsidies for failing to reconcile past years' tax credits, and a broader catastrophic-plan eligibility expansion is paused.
• State help. Some states are using their own money to offset the lost federal subsidies. New Mexico backfilled the full amount, California is expanding its program, and Rhode Island and Virginia are starting new subsidies.

Could Congress change it?

Democrats, who won the House and the Senate in the midterms, have promised to try to restore the expired subsidies. But the new Congress does not take office until January 3, and any change would need President Trump's signature. It is unclear how any restored subsidies would apply to 2027 plans. For the latest on that fight, see what Democrats' win could mean for your health insurance and prices.

A quick checklist

• Compare plans on HealthCare.gov or your state's exchange, not only the plan you already have, since insurers and networks may have changed.
• Check whether your doctors and medications are covered.
• Update your income estimate carefully, because it determines your subsidy.
• Be cautious of anyone offering cash, rebates or "free" insurance to get you to enroll.
• Enroll by December 15 if you want coverage to begin January 1.

Frequently asked questions

When does ACA open enrollment 2027 start and end?

It started on November 1, 2026. On HealthCare.gov it ends January 15, 2027, and the deadline for coverage beginning January 1 is December 15.

Are ACA subsidies still available?

Yes, but the larger enhanced subsidies expired. People with incomes above 400% of the federal poverty level get no premium tax credit.

How much are premiums going up?

The average increase in benchmark silver premiums is 13% for 2027, according to KFF.

Will Democrats restore the subsidies?

They have promised to try, but it would require legislation and the president's signature. It is not decided.

Related coverage

• What Democrats' win could mean for your health insurance and prices
• Democrats win Congress: 2026 midterm results and what is still undecided

This article is for information only and is not insurance, financial or legal advice. Check HealthCare.gov or your state exchange for your own options. Sources: KFF (November 6, 2026), the Congressional Budget Office, CMS and HHS notices, as cited. Last updated: November 7, 2026.