ACA Open Enrollment 2027: Dates, Premium Hikes and the Subsidy Cliff Explained

Updated October 28, 2026

General information only, not financial, medical or legal advice. Check figures for your state and household on HealthCare.gov or your state marketplace.

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Open Enrollment for 2027 Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plans runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. Enroll by December 15 for coverage starting January 1. Insurers proposed a median premium increase of about 15% for 2027, the second double-digit rise in a row. The enhanced subsidies of 2021–2025 have expired, so households earning above 400% of the poverty level ($63,840 for one person, $132,000 for a family of four) generally get no premium tax credit at all. If you get coverage through the Marketplace, actively compare plans this year rather than letting auto-renewal decide for you.

The key dates for 2027 coverage

On HealthCare.gov, the federal Marketplace used by most states, the calendar is the same one people have used in recent years:

November 1, 2026: Open Enrollment starts. This is the first day you can enroll, renew or change plans.
December 15, 2026: Last day to pick or change a plan for coverage that starts January 1, 2027.
January 15, 2027: Open Enrollment ends. Plans chosen between December 16 and January 15 start February 1, 2027.

After January 15 you can only enroll if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, usually after a life event such as losing job-based coverage, moving, marriage or having a baby.

State-run marketplaces set their own windows. Most open on November 1, but several run longer or shorter. California, New York, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. are reported to run to January 31; Idaho closes December 15; Connecticut and Massachusetts close December 23. Confirm your exact deadline on your state exchange’s own site before you rely on it.

Why the dates were in the news

A 2025 federal rule would have ended Open Enrollment on December 15 for HealthCare.gov states and removed the February 1 start date. A federal judge blocked that change in June 2026, and CMS confirmed the traditional November 1 to January 15 window in August. Some states that had shortened their own deadlines in anticipation went back to longer ones, which is why you may have seen conflicting dates online.

Premiums are rising again: what insurers asked for

According to KFF’s analysis of proposed rates from 276 insurers across all 50 states and D.C., the median proposed premium increase for 2027 is about 15%. That follows a median finalized increase of 20% for 2026. It is the second-highest requested rate change since 2018 and the second double-digit year in a row. KFF’s earlier look at preliminary filings found no insurer proposing a decrease, and noted that if approved, typical Marketplace premiums would rise by more than a third between 2025 and 2027.

Insurers gave several reasons:

Rising health care prices, the biggest driver: hospital stays, doctor visits and prescription drugs, including GLP-1 weight-loss drugs.
The end of enhanced subsidies. When the extra tax credits expired at the end of 2025, healthier people were more likely to drop coverage, leaving a sicker, costlier risk pool.
General inflation and labor costs in health care.
Federal rule changes finalized in May 2026 that expand cheaper plan options and tighten eligibility checks, adding uncertainty to pricing.

These are proposed medians. Final rates differ by state, insurer and plan, and many people pay far less than the sticker price because of the premium tax credit. That is where the bigger change sits.

The subsidy cliff is back

From 2021 through 2025, enhanced premium tax credits capped what anyone paid for a benchmark silver plan at 8.5% of income, with no upper income limit. Congress did not extend them, so for 2027 the original ACA rules apply:

You generally qualify for a premium tax credit only if household income is between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and you don’t have access to affordable job-based coverage.
Above 400% FPL there is no credit, however high the premium.
Within the range, you’re expected to pay a set share of income for the benchmark (second-lowest-cost silver) plan, and the credit covers the rest.

For 2027 coverage, the Marketplace uses the 2026 poverty guidelines. In the 48 contiguous states and D.C. they are:

Household size	100% FPL	400% FPL (subsidy cliff)
1	$15,960	$63,840
2	$21,640	$86,560
3	$27,320	$109,280
4	$33,000	$132,000

Alaska and Hawaii use higher figures. The IRS set the 2027 “applicable percentages” in Revenue Procedure 2026-26:

Income (% of FPL)	Expected contribution for benchmark silver plan (% of income)
Under 133%	2.15%
133% to 150%	3.23% to 4.30%
150% to 200%	4.30% to 6.78%
200% to 250%	6.78% to 8.66%
250% to 300%	8.66% to 10.22%
300% to 400%	10.22%
Above 400%	No credit

What that looks like in dollars

These worked examples use the official percentages above. They show the most you’d be expected to pay for the benchmark silver plan; actual premiums depend on where you live, your age and the plan you choose.

Single adult earning $30,000 (about 188% FPL): expected contribution about 6.2% of income, roughly $155 a month.
Single adult earning $40,000 (about 251% FPL): about 8.7%, roughly $289 a month.
Family of four earning $130,000 (about 394% FPL): 10.22%, capped at roughly $1,107 a month.
The same family earning $133,000 (just over 400% FPL): no credit, so they pay the full premium, which for a family plan can be far higher.

That last pair is the “cliff”: a $3,000 raise can cost a family thousands in lost subsidy. Older early retirees in high-premium areas are among the most exposed.

One more change: no cap on paying back extra credit

Most people take the credit in advance to lower their monthly bill, based on estimated income. Under the 2025 tax law (Public Law 119-21), the cap on repaying excess advance credits no longer applies starting with tax year 2026. If your actual income comes in higher than you estimated, you may owe the full difference at tax time. Report income changes to the Marketplace during the year to avoid a surprise bill.

How to shop smarter this Open Enrollment

With prices rising and the cliff back, the default of letting your plan auto-renew is riskier than usual. A practical checklist:

Update your income estimate first. Your credit is based on projected 2027 household income. Getting it right affects both your monthly bill and what you may owe at tax time.
Compare the benchmark, not just your old plan. Your credit is tied to the second-lowest-cost silver plan in your area. If that plan’s price changed, your credit changed too.
Look at total cost, not only the premium. A cheaper bronze plan can mean a much higher deductible. Add the premium and a realistic estimate of out-of-pocket costs.
If you’re near 400% FPL, run the numbers. Pre-tax retirement or HSA contributions lower the modified adjusted gross income the Marketplace uses, which can keep some households under the cliff. A tax professional can confirm how this applies to you.
Check doctors and drugs. Networks and formularies change every year. Confirm your providers and prescriptions are covered under the new plan.
Use official sites. Enroll through HealthCare.gov or your state’s official exchange, or a licensed agent or broker. Be wary of look-alike sites and cold calls promising “free” plans. Our guide on how to spot a fake shopping website covers the warning signs.

If you’re 65 or turning 65, the ACA Marketplace usually isn’t your route. See our Medicare Open Enrollment 2027 explainer instead; that window runs October 15 to December 7. And if rising costs mean leaning on credit, our explainer on how interest rate changes affect your loans is a useful companion read.

FAQ

When does ACA Open Enrollment 2027 start and end?

On HealthCare.gov it runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15 for coverage starting January 1. State marketplaces may differ.

Will my premium go up in 2027?

Insurers proposed a median increase of about 15%, but your actual cost depends on your plan, location, age and whether you qualify for a premium tax credit.

What is the ACA subsidy cliff?

It’s the income line at 400% of the federal poverty level. Below it you may get a premium tax credit; above it you get none, so a small income rise can mean a large jump in what you pay.

What is 400% of the poverty level for 2027 coverage?

For the 48 contiguous states: $63,840 for one person, $86,560 for two, $109,280 for three and $132,000 for four.

Did Congress extend the enhanced subsidies?

No. The enhanced premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025. Unless Congress acts, the original ACA rules apply to 2027 coverage.

What happens if I don’t do anything?

In most cases you’re automatically re-enrolled in the same or a similar plan. But your premium and credit may change, so logging in to update income and compare plans is worth the time.