Short answer
When is ACA open enrollment for 2027?
On HealthCare.gov, open enrollment for 2027 coverage starts November 1, 2026. Pick a plan by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1, 2027. HealthCare.gov lists January 15, 2027 as the last day, for coverage that starts February 1. (HealthCare.gov, Dates and deadlines) States with their own exchange can set their own dates. The extra pandemic-era tax credits ended on December 31, 2025, so for 2027 you may qualify for a premium tax credit with household income from 100 to 400 percent of the federal poverty level. (HealthCare.gov, Keep or change your plan) (26 U.S.C. 36B)
| Fact | 2027 coverage | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Open enrollment starts | November 1, 2026 | HealthCare.gov |
| Deadline for January 1 coverage | December 15, 2026 | HealthCare.gov |
| Open enrollment ends | January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov; state exchanges may differ | HealthCare.gov |
| Income range for the premium tax credit | 100 to 400 percent of the federal poverty level | 26 U.S.C. 36B |
| Share of income toward the benchmark plan | 2.15 to 10.22 percent, by income | IRS |
| Medicaid in expansion states | Income below 138 percent of poverty | HealthCare.gov |
Source: HealthCare.gov, When can you get health insurance? Verified .
The Marketplace and your state decide eligibility and savings. Benefit Bull is free, never enrolls you in a plan, and never applies for you.
When is open enrollment for 2027 coverage?
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| November 1, 2026 | Open enrollment starts. You can enroll in, renew, or change a plan for 2027. |
| December 15, 2026 | Last day to enroll in or change plans for coverage to start January 1, 2027. |
| January 15, 2027 | Open enrollment ends, per HealthCare.gov. Plans picked December 16 through January 15 start February 1. |
Coverage starts only after you pay your first premium. (HealthCare.gov, Keep or change your plan) After open enrollment ends, you can enroll or change plans only with a Special Enrollment Period, for example after moving, losing other coverage, getting married, or having a baby. (HealthCare.gov, Dates and deadlines)
States that run their own exchange can set their own dates, so check your state's official site. Kentucky's exchange, kynect, lists open enrollment for plan year 2027 as November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, and says Medicaid and KCHIP enrollment is open anytime for those who are eligible. (kynect, Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange)
Put December 15 on your calendar. It is the date that matters if you want coverage on January 1.
Did the extra tax credits end?
Yes. HealthCare.gov says the additional savings available because of the COVID pandemic ended on December 31, 2025. (HealthCare.gov, Keep or change your plan) Federal law removed the 400 percent of poverty income cap only for tax years beginning before January 1, 2026. (26 U.S.C. 36B) For 2027, the premium tax credit is again limited to household incomes from 100 to 400 percent of the federal poverty level. (26 U.S.C. 36B) (HealthCare.gov, Federal poverty level)
HealthCare.gov also explains that your credit can change even when your income does not, because plan premiums change too. (HealthCare.gov, Keep or change your plan)
If your 2027 letter shows a smaller credit or none, update your application anyway. HealthCare.gov says you may find you still qualify for help.
Who may qualify for a premium tax credit in 2027?
Marketplace savings for 2027 are based on the poverty guidelines published in 2026, because HealthCare.gov uses the previous year's figures to calculate savings for the next year. (HealthCare.gov, Federal poverty level)
| Household size | 100 percent (official) | 138 percent (estimated) | 400 percent (estimated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $22,025 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $29,863 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $37,702 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $45,540 | $132,000 |
Income here means modified adjusted gross income, which for most people is the same as or close to the adjusted gross income on a tax return. (HealthCare.gov, Federal poverty level) The credit is available only on a plan bought through the Marketplace. (HealthCare.gov, Keep or change your plan)
Estimate your 2027 income, not your 2026 income. HealthCare.gov bases your savings on what you expect to earn in the coverage year.
How much of your income goes toward a plan in 2027?
The credit is set so that you pay no more than a set share of your income for the benchmark plan, which federal law defines as the second lowest cost silver plan in your area. IRS published that share, the applicable percentage, for 2027. (IRS, Rev. Proc. 2026-26) (26 U.S.C. 36B)
| Household income, percent of poverty | Initial percentage | Final percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 133% | 2.15% | 2.15% |
| 133% to under 150% | 3.23% | 4.3% |
| 150% to under 200% | 4.3% | 6.78% |
| 200% to under 250% | 6.78% | 8.66% |
| 250% to under 300% | 8.66% | 10.22% |
| 300% to 400% | 10.22% | 10.22% |
An example, for illustration only: one person with an estimated income of $55,860, which is 350 percent of the 2026 guideline, would be expected to pay 10.22 percent of income, an estimated $476 a month, toward the benchmark plan. (IRS, Rev. Proc. 2026-26) (HHS ASPE, 2026 Poverty Guidelines) Your actual credit depends on your income, household, and the plans in your area. (HealthCare.gov, Keep or change your plan)
Use the Marketplace window shopping tool or your application to see your own numbers. Do not rely on someone else's example.
What should you do if your renewal premium jumped?
- Read both letters. By November 1 you should get one letter from your insurance company and one from the Marketplace. Together they tell you if your plan is available next year, which plan you will be re-enrolled in, and any changes in cost or savings. (HealthCare.gov, Keep or change your plan)
- Update your income and household. Marketplace savings are based on your expected income for the coverage year. If you do not update, you could get less help than you are eligible for, or more, and have to pay the difference back at tax time. (HealthCare.gov, Keep or change your plan)
- Compare plans. Plans and prices change every year. Compare your matched plan with the others available to you, not just your current one. (HealthCare.gov, Keep or change your plan)
- Pick a plan by December 15. That is the last day for coverage to start January 1. If you do nothing, you may be automatically re-enrolled for January 1, but your savings may not be right unless you update your application. (HealthCare.gov, Dates and deadlines) (HealthCare.gov, Keep or change your plan)
- Pay the first premium. Coverage starts only after the first payment. (HealthCare.gov, Keep or change your plan)
Log in during the first two weeks of November, when there is still time to fix your income and compare before December 15.
Marketplace or Medicaid: which one fits?
In states that expanded Medicaid, you may qualify based on income alone if your household income is below 133 percent of the federal poverty level, which works out to 138 percent because of how it is calculated. A few states use a different limit. (HealthCare.gov, Medicaid expansion) For one person that is an estimated $22,025 a year using the 2026 guidelines. (HealthCare.gov, Federal poverty level) (HHS ASPE, 2026 Poverty Guidelines)
In states that have not expanded Medicaid, adults with income below the federal poverty level who do not qualify for Medicaid under the state's current rules fall into a gap: too much income for Medicaid there, and too little for Marketplace savings. HealthCare.gov still says to fill out a Marketplace application, because each state has options, especially if you have children, are pregnant, or have a disability. (HealthCare.gov, Medicaid expansion)
Medicaid is not limited to open enrollment. HealthCare.gov says you can apply for Medicaid and CHIP at any time. (HealthCare.gov, Dates and deadlines) For state income limits, see our guides to Texas Medicaid income limits and Indiana Medicaid income limits.
If your income is near 138 percent, fill out the Marketplace application. HealthCare.gov says it will also tell you whether Medicaid or savings on a plan may fit.
What 2027 Marketplace numbers matter?
- Dec. 15
- Last day to pick a plan for January 1, 2027 coverage on HealthCare.gov
- 400%
- Top of the income range for the premium tax credit in 2027
- 10.22%
- Highest share of income toward the benchmark plan in 2027 (IRS)
- 138%
- Medicaid income limit in most expansion states
See which health and other programs may fit your household, with estimated values and official links.
Sources: (HealthCare.gov, Dates and deadlines) (IRS, Rev. Proc. 2026-26) (26 U.S.C. 36B) (HealthCare.gov, Medicaid expansion)
What this adds up to
For 2027 coverage, the date to remember is December 15, the last day to pick a plan that starts January 1. (HealthCare.gov, Dates and deadlines) The extra pandemic-era credits are gone, so the 400 percent cap is back and the IRS percentages run from 2.15 to 10.22 percent of income. (HealthCare.gov, Keep or change your plan) (IRS, Rev. Proc. 2026-26) (26 U.S.C. 36B) Update your income, compare plans instead of auto-renewing, and if your income is low, check Medicaid on the same application. (HealthCare.gov, Keep or change your plan) (HealthCare.gov, Medicaid expansion) You enroll yourself on HealthCare.gov or your state's official exchange; Benefit Bull walks you through it and never enrolls you.
Sources
Every claim above links to the source it came from. Figures checked October 2026. Last updated October 21, 2026.
- HealthCare.gov, When can you get health insurance? (dates and deadlines) (accessed October 21, 2026)
- HealthCare.gov, Keep or change your insurance plan (accessed October 21, 2026)
- HealthCare.gov, Federal poverty level (FPL) (accessed October 21, 2026)
- HealthCare.gov, Medicaid expansion and what it means for you (accessed October 21, 2026)
- Internal Revenue Service, Rev. Proc. 2026-26, applicable percentage table for 2027 (accessed October 21, 2026)
- U.S. Government Publishing Office, 26 U.S.C. 36B, Refundable credit for coverage under a qualified health plan (accessed October 21, 2026)
- HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Poverty Guidelines (2026) (accessed October 21, 2026)
- Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange (kynect), open enrollment for plan year 2027 (accessed October 21, 2026)
