ACA Open Enrollment 2027: Key Dates and What's Actually Different This Year

If you buy your own health insurance through the ACA Marketplace, the next open enrollment period is when you'll find out exactly what your 2027 coverage will cost. The short version: the temporary boost that made marketplace plans unusually cheap for the past few years is still gone, and premiums reflect that.

Key dates for 2027 coverage

Open enrollment for plans starting January 1, 2027, runs on the same general schedule as prior years on the federal marketplace: enrollment opens November 1, with December 15 typically the deadline to enroll for coverage effective January 1. Enrollees who miss that date can generally still sign up through January 15, with coverage starting February 1 instead. Some state-run marketplaces set their own, sometimes longer, windows — check your state exchange directly if you're not using healthcare.gov.

What actually happened to your premium

For 2021 through 2025, "enhanced" premium tax credits — first introduced during the pandemic under the American Rescue Plan Act and extended through 2025 by the Inflation Reduction Act — expanded who qualified for help and increased how much help they got. Those enhancements expired on December 31, 2025, reverting subsidy rules back to the ACA's original, less generous structure.

The practical effect for 2026 plans was steep: average premium payments across the marketplace roughly doubled for many subsidized enrollees, and overall sticker prices for 2026 plans rose an estimated 18% to 24% on average, with some states seeing increases as high as 36%.

Did Congress bring the enhanced credits back for 2027?

Not as of this writing. Here's the timeline so far:

• December 11, 2025: The Senate rejected a three-year extension of the enhanced credits by a 51–48 vote, short of the 60 votes needed to advance. A separate Senate Republican health savings account bill also failed the same day.

• January 8, 2026: The House passed its own three-year extension, 230–196, with 17 Republicans joining Democrats.

• Mid-January 2026: Senators from both parties reported that a bipartisan compromise — reportedly including a shorter, two-year extension paired with new reforms — had stalled over unresolved disagreements and limited White House involvement.

• Since then: No extension has been signed into law. Various narrower proposals (shorter extensions, income caps, minimum premium contributions, anti-fraud provisions) have circulated in both chambers, but none has passed both chambers and been enacted.

Going into the 2027 open enrollment period, the enhanced credits remain expired, and standard, pre-2021 premium tax credit rules apply.

This could still change — health policy watchers should not be surprised if Congress attaches a partial fix to a future funding bill — but plan your budget around current rules, not a hoped-for extension. Check for updates close to your enrollment date, since this is one of the more fluid parts of the story.

What this means depending on your income

• Under 400% of the federal poverty level: You likely still qualify for some premium tax credit under the ACA's original rules, just a smaller one than in 2021–2025.

• Over 400% of the federal poverty level: The original ACA law caps subsidy eligibility at this income line. Without the enhanced-credit exception, going even slightly over 400% of the poverty level can mean losing premium assistance entirely — a jump often called the "subsidy cliff." This hits older, near-retirement enrollees hardest, since their premiums are highest to begin with.

• Everyone: Even unsubsidized "sticker" premiums are higher for 2027 in most markets, separate from the subsidy question, due to rising medical costs and insurer repricing.

What to actually do during this year's enrollment

• Don't auto-renew without checking. Your current plan's premium and subsidy amount can both change significantly year to year — actively re-shop rather than letting your plan roll over.

• Update your income estimate carefully. Because the subsidy cliff is back, an income estimate that's even slightly too high near the 400% FPL line can eliminate your credit for the whole year. If your income is close to that line, it's worth a second look before you submit.

• Compare metal tiers, not just your current plan. With subsidies smaller across the board, a different tier (Bronze vs. Silver, for example) may now offer a better cost-to-coverage balance than what you picked when the enhanced credits made Silver and Gold plans artificially cheap.

• Watch for late-breaking legislation. If Congress does pass a credit extension after enrollment opens, marketplaces have in the past allowed enrollees to update their applications — it's worth checking healthcare.gov's announcements periodically through December.

The bottom line

Open enrollment for 2027 coverage starts November 1. The subsidy enhancements that made marketplace plans unusually cheap since 2021 are still gone, premiums are still elevated from that change, and no extension has passed as of this writing. The one piece of good news: the premium tax credit itself hasn't disappeared, only the temporary boost to it — so it's still worth enrolling and applying for help rather than assuming you no longer qualify.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute official health insurance, legal, tax, or financial advice. Health insurance rules, premium rates, and subsidy eligibility under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) vary based on individual income, household size, state of residence, and official policy changes. Legislative developments in Congress regarding premium tax credits remain subject to change. For personalized assistance and up-to-date plan options, please visit the official federal marketplace at HealthCare.gov or consult your state’s health exchange, a licensed insurance broker, or a certified navigator.