Obamacare 2027 open enrollment: dates, what changed and how to know if you qualify

2027 open enrollment dates

These are the dates for the federal Marketplace (HealthCare.gov):

• November 1, 2026: open enrollment starts.
• December 15, 2026: last day to sign up for coverage that starts January 1, 2027.
• January 15, 2027: last day to sign up or change plans. If you sign up between December 16 and January 15, coverage starts February 1, after you pay your first premium.

Some states run their own marketplace and have different dates. For example, Covered California closes on January 31, 2027. Check the dates for your state.

What changed for 2027

The extra help to pay for plans, which existed from 2021 to 2025, ended and was not extended. That is why many families saw their monthly cost go up in 2026.

• The income limit is back: according to the IRS, starting in 2026 the help (a tax credit) is generally for households with income up to 400% of the federal poverty level. Above that level, there is no help.
• If you get more help than you should, you now pay all of it back when you file your taxes: starting with tax year 2026, there is no cap on repayment. That is why it is key to report your income correctly and update it if it changes.
• The monthly special enrollment period for people with low income, which let them sign up any time of year, no longer exists.
• Lawfully present immigrants: according to HealthCare.gov, starting January 1, 2027, the help to pay for a plan is for lawful permanent residents (green card holders), Cuban or Haitian entrants and COFA migrants. Other lawfully present people can buy a Marketplace plan, but without that help.

How to know if you qualify for help: the income chart

The help is based on your household income compared to the federal poverty level. For 2027 coverage, the 2026 numbers are used. HealthCare.gov says that with income between 100% and 400% of that level, you may qualify.

• 1 person: $15,960 to $63,840 a year.
• 2 people: $21,640 to $86,560 a year.
• 3 people: $27,320 to $109,280 a year.
• 4 people: $33,000 to $132,000 a year.
• For each additional person, add $5,680 to the poverty level. Alaska and Hawaii have higher numbers.

Qualifying does not mean your plan will cost $0. What you pay depends on your income, your state, your age and the plan you choose.

What if you don’t qualify for help?

There are two common cases. If you earn more than 400% of the poverty level, you no longer get help and a Marketplace plan can be expensive. And in the 10 states that did not expand Medicaid (including Florida and Texas), many people with income below 100% fall into a “gap”: they do not qualify for Medicaid or for Marketplace help.

In those cases, you still have options. A private health plan can be an alternative, and you can sign up for one in any month of the year. A benefits consultant compares both paths and tells you which one fits you.

Can I sign up outside these dates?

Yes, if you have an event that gives you a special enrollment period: getting married, having or adopting a child, moving to a new county or ZIP code, or losing coverage from work or Medicaid, among others. You generally have 60 days from the event (90 if you lost Medicaid or CHIP), and you may be asked for proof.

What to have ready to sign up

• Income for each person in the household: pay stubs, W-2s or tax returns, self-employment, unemployment or Social Security.
• How you will file taxes (single or jointly) and who you claim as a dependent.
• Social Security numbers for those who have them and, if it applies, the information from the immigration documents of those asking for coverage.
• Information about any insurance you have now, or that your job offers you.

According to HealthCare.gov, family members who are not asking for coverage for themselves are not asked about their immigration status.

Frequently asked questions