Open Enrollment 2027: Dates and Deadlines for Marketplace Health Insurance

Open Enrollment for 2027 Marketplace health coverage starts November 1, 2026 and ends January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. If you want your plan to start on January 1, you need to pick it by December 15, 2026.

Those dates come straight from HealthCare.gov's own dates-and-deadlines page. You may have read that the 2027 window would be cut short. HealthCare.gov still lists January 15 as the last day, so go by that page, not by older headlines.

The 2027 Open Enrollment Calendar

• November 1, 2026: Open Enrollment starts. You can apply for 2027 coverage or change plans.
• December 15, 2026: Last day to enroll or switch plans for coverage that starts January 1, 2027.
• January 15, 2027: Open Enrollment ends. If you enroll between December 16 and January 15, coverage starts February 1.

After January 15, you can only enroll if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, for example after losing other coverage, moving, marrying or having a baby.

State-Run Marketplaces Can Differ

Several states run their own marketplace instead of using HealthCare.gov. Those exchanges set their own deadlines, and some keep enrollment open later than the federal site. If you live in one of them, check your state exchange's site before you assume the HealthCare.gov dates apply. HealthCare.gov sends you to the right site when you enter your ZIP code.

If You Already Have a Marketplace Plan

If you do nothing, most people are re-enrolled automatically in the same plan, or a similar one if theirs is discontinued. The risk is that the price, the network or your subsidy may change for 2027 without you noticing. Log in during November and do three things:

1. Update your 2027 income estimate. Your premium tax credit is based on what you expect to earn next year. A stale estimate can mean a smaller credit now or a repayment at tax time.
2. Read the renewal notice. Compare your 2027 monthly premium and deductible with what you pay today.
3. Check your doctors and drugs. Networks and drug lists change every year. Search your plan's 2027 directory and formulary, not the current one.

If You Are Shopping for the First Time

Have these ready before you start: Social Security numbers (or immigration documents) for everyone applying, your best income estimate for 2027, any job-based coverage offers and their costs, and a list of your doctors and prescriptions. With those in hand, most people can finish an application in under an hour.

Compare plans by total yearly cost, not just the monthly premium. Add twelve months of premium to the deductible you would realistically hit. A cheap Bronze plan can cost more than a Silver plan if you expect regular care, and people with lower incomes may qualify for cost-sharing reductions that only apply to Silver plans.

Key Takeaway

Mark December 15 if you want coverage on January 1, and January 15 as the hard stop on HealthCare.gov. Update your income and check your plan's 2027 network even if you plan to stay put.

Dates checked against HealthCare.gov on October 14, 2026. Always confirm on HealthCare.gov or your state's exchange before you enroll.