Full answer: Depends on your state. On HealthCare.gov, open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, and you must pick a plan by December 15, 2026 for coverage starting January 1, 2027. State exchanges set their own dates: California, New Jersey, New York and D.C. run to January 31, 2027, Massachusetts to January 23, Virginia to January 29, and Idaho closes December 15, 2026.
ACA open enrollment for 2027 coverage opens November 1, 2026 on HealthCare.gov, and most states that use the federal site close it January 15, 2027. Plans chosen by December 15, 2026 start January 1, 2027. Plans chosen from December 16, 2026 through January 15, 2027 are scheduled to start February 1, 2027. Today is October 26, 2026, so the window opens in six days. If you are under 65 and buy your own insurance, or you lose job-based coverage at the end of 2026, these are the dates that matter.
State-run exchanges are different. Some close earlier than HealthCare.gov and many close later, so the right deadline depends on where you live. One federal detail is also unsettled: the HealthCare.gov end date has been disputed in court, so confirm it on HealthCare.gov before you rely on it. A section below explains what that means for you. For the previous cycle, see our 2026 open enrollment dates guide.
Coverage Breakdown
Direct answer: ACA open enrollment 2027 dates
Depends on your state. On HealthCare.gov, open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, and you must pick a plan by December 15, 2026 for coverage starting January 1, 2027. State exchanges set their own dates: California, New Jersey, New York and D.C. run to January 31, 2027, Massachusetts to January 23, Virginia to January 29, and Idaho closes December 15, 2026.
ACA open enrollment 2027 dates by state exchange
HealthCare.gov serves the states that do not run their own exchange, and every one of them follows the same federal dates: November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Many states and D.C. run their own exchanges and set their own windows. The table lists the state deadlines confirmed from the exchange or state regulator for 2027 coverage. States not listed here either use HealthCare.gov or have a window we have not confirmed from an official source, so check your state exchange directly.
California residents who want coverage on January 1, 2027 must finish by December 31, 2026, according to Covered California, which is later than the HealthCare.gov cutoff. Massachusetts opens earliest of the states below (October 23, 2026) and asks for a plan choice by December 23, 2026 for a January 1 start. Idaho runs the shortest window, October 15 to December 15, 2026. Always compare the date on your own exchange with the federal December 15, 2026 date.
Will the HealthCare.gov end date change?
HealthCare.gov currently lists November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 for 2027 coverage, and December 15, 2026 as the last day to enroll for a January 1, 2027 start. The end date of federal open enrollment has been disputed in court, so confirm it on HealthCare.gov before you rely on any date other than December 15.
Because the end date has been disputed in court, the practical advice is simple: treat December 15, 2026 as your real deadline. Enrolling by that date protects a January 1, 2027 start either way, and the extra weeks to January 15, 2027 are a cushion rather than a plan. We will update this page if HealthCare.gov changes its dates.
What 2027 coverage costs and who gets help (2027 coverage figures)
For 2027 coverage, the premium tax credit is measured against the 2026 federal poverty guidelines: 100% to 400% of the poverty level is $15,960 to $63,840 for one person and $33,000 to $132,000 for a family of four (2027 coverage). The expected contribution for 2027 coverage runs from 2.15% to 10.22% of income, and the 400% cap remains because the enhanced credits ended December 31, 2025. These figures are not the 2026 coverage limits, which use the 2025 guidelines ($62,600 for one person at 400%).
Two rule changes affect 2027 shoppers. Starting with 2027 coverage, the premium tax credit is limited to citizens, green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and citizens of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau, so refugees, asylees, TPS holders, parolees and visa holders can still buy a plan but at full price. And from tax year 2026, excess advance premium tax credits must be repaid in full at every income, so update your income estimate during enrollment. Every ACA-compliant plan covers essential health benefits and cannot deny you for a preexisting condition.
Alternatives if you miss the 2027 open enrollment deadline
Missing the 2027 window does not always mean going uninsured, but your options narrow quickly after January 15, 2027 (or your state's date). The four routes below are the main ones. Each is described with where to start, because the right one depends on your income and what changed in your life.
- Special Enrollment Period: losing job-based coverage, marriage, birth or adoption, a move to a new coverage area, or a change in Medicaid or CHIP eligibility usually gives you 60 days to enroll. Start at healthcare.gov/coverage-outside-open-enrollment/.
- Medicaid or CHIP: both accept applications every day of the year with no enrollment window if your household income and status qualify. Apply through HealthCare.gov or your state Medicaid agency, and see our Medicaid income limits.
- Employer coverage: if you or a spouse can join a job-based plan, the employer's own enrollment window and qualifying events apply, which are separate from the Marketplace. Ask your benefits administrator for the date.
- Community health centers: federally qualified health centers charge on a sliding scale by income and are not insurance, but they cover primary care while you wait. Find one at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.
Open enrollment for the ACA is not Medicare enrollment
Medicare runs on a different calendar. Its Annual Enrollment Period is October 15 to December 7, 2026 for coverage starting January 1, 2027, and it applies to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), Medicare Part D drug plans, Medicare Advantage and Medigap. If you are turning 65 or already have Medicare, use Medicare.gov, not the ACA Marketplace. People with Medicare generally cannot get premium tax credits, and you should not drop Marketplace coverage until your Medicare Part A and Part B start.
How to enroll for 2027 coverage on HealthCare.gov or your state exchange
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage lets you apply, compare plans and enroll starting November 1, 2026. If you already have a Marketplace plan, review your renewal notice first, because an automatic renewal can change your premium and your network. Updating your household composition and expected income takes about 20 minutes and determines your premium tax credit. The numbered steps below apply on HealthCare.gov; state exchange residents should use their state site for the same steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does ACA open enrollment start for 2027?
ACA open enrollment for 2027 coverage starts November 1, 2026 on HealthCare.gov and in most state exchanges. Massachusetts opens earlier, on October 23, 2026, and Idaho opens October 15, 2026. You can often preview plans and prices on your exchange's site before the start date, but you generally cannot enroll until it opens.
When does ACA open enrollment end for 2027?
On HealthCare.gov, open enrollment for 2027 coverage ends January 15, 2027. State exchanges differ: California, New Jersey, New York and D.C. end January 31, 2027, Virginia January 29, Massachusetts January 23, and Idaho December 15, 2026. After your exchange's end date you generally need a Special Enrollment Period.
What is the deadline to get coverage that starts January 1, 2027?
On HealthCare.gov you must select a plan by December 15, 2026 and pay your first premium for coverage to start January 1, 2027. Plans selected December 16, 2026 through January 15, 2027 are scheduled to start February 1, 2027. State exchanges set their own cutoffs: Covered California says December 31, 2026 and Massachusetts says December 23, 2026.
Is the HealthCare.gov deadline December 15 or January 15 for 2027?
HealthCare.gov lists January 15, 2027 as the end of open enrollment and December 15, 2026 as the deadline for a January 1 start. The end date has been disputed in court, so confirm it on HealthCare.gov. Treat December 15, 2026 as your safe deadline.
Can I still change plans after I enroll during open enrollment?
Yes, until your exchange's open enrollment ends you can generally change plans, and the latest choice you make before the deadline replaces the earlier one. Coverage start dates depend on when you choose. After the window closes you can switch only with a Special Enrollment Period, such as a move or loss of other coverage.
What happens if I do nothing during 2027 open enrollment?
If you have a Marketplace plan, you are usually automatically renewed into the same or a similar plan for 2027, but your premium, network and subsidy can change. If your income or household changed, an old subsidy amount can be wrong, and from tax year 2026 excess advance credits must be repaid in full. Review your renewal notice and update your application.
Can I enroll after open enrollment ends?
Only with a qualifying life event, such as losing job-based coverage, marriage, a birth or adoption, or a move to a new coverage area. Most Special Enrollment Periods last 60 days. Medicaid and CHIP are the exception: you can apply any day of the year if your income and status qualify.
Is Medicare open enrollment the same as ACA open enrollment?
No. Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period is October 15 to December 7, 2026 for coverage starting January 1, 2027, while ACA open enrollment starts November 1, 2026. They cover different programs: Medicare Part A, Part B, Part D and Medicare Advantage on one side, and Marketplace plans on the other. People with Medicare generally cannot get Marketplace premium tax credits.
