Last updated August 25, 2026
Open Enrollment for 2027 health coverage opens November 1, 2026. Here’s exactly when it runs, what almost changed about it, what your premium is likely to look like, and what to do before it opens.
When Is Open Enrollment 2027?
Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 in states that use HealthCare.gov, which includes Texas. Enroll by December 15, 2026 and coverage starts January 1, 2027. Enroll between December 16, 2026 and January 15, 2027 and coverage starts February 1, 2027 instead. A few state-run marketplaces (California, New York, New Jersey, DC, and others) run longer than this, so check your state’s exchange if you’re not in Texas.
Outside that window, you generally need a qualifying life event, a job loss, marriage, a move, a new baby, to enroll through a Special Enrollment Period.
The Court Fight That Almost Shortened This Year’s Window
CMS had finalized a rule that would have cut the 2027 Open Enrollment window down to just November 1 through December 15, dropping the extra month that normally runs through January 15. On July 16, 2026, a federal judge blocked that provision along with several others in the same rule, and CMS confirmed Open Enrollment for 2027 will run through January 15, 2027 after all, the same length it’s run in recent years.
Other provisions from that same rule, tighter income and identity verification, stricter documentation for Special Enrollment Periods, and higher allowed cost-sharing on bronze plans, are also on hold while the litigation continues. Nothing about that is final, so it’s worth confirming details closer to November if you’re relying on a Special Enrollment Period or a bronze plan.
What Your 2027 Premium Will Actually Look Like
The enhanced federal premium tax credits that had lowered Marketplace premiums since 2021 expired on January 1, 2026, and as of this writing Congress has not passed a replacement. The House passed a three-year extension bill on January 8, 2026, but it stalled in the Senate, and a separate bipartisan proposal has been discussed since without becoming law. That means 2027 is shaping up to be the second enrollment season in a row without the extra help, on top of the usual year-over-year rate changes insurers file.
For context, the enhanced credits were in place through all of 2025, they removed the income cap that used to cut off subsidies above 400% of the federal poverty level, and capped what anyone paid for a benchmark plan at 8.5% of income. Losing that is why many enrollees saw a real jump in their bill for 2026, and why a 2027 quote can look very different from what you paid two years ago. A generic percentage doesn’t tell you much on its own, the only way to know what you’d actually pay is to run your specific household size and income against current plans.
How to Get Ready Before November 1
If you want coverage starting January 1, 2027, mark December 15, 2026 as your real deadline, not January 15. Waiting until the second half of the window pushes your start date to February 1 and leaves a longer gap if you’re switching from other coverage.
Before you enroll, it’s worth having your expected 2027 household income, your current plan’s details, and a list of any doctors or medications you need covered on hand, that’s what actually determines your subsidy and which plans make sense, not last year’s premium.
Want a straight answer on what your 2027 premium would look like? Contact Precise Insurance and we’ll run your numbers before you enroll.