ACA Open Enrollment 2027: Dates, Deadlines, and What Changed

Open enrollment for 2027 ACA marketplace coverage begins November 1, 2026 and runs through January 15, 2027 on the federal marketplace (healthcare.gov). Some state-based exchanges set their own deadlines, which may be earlier or later. To have coverage effective January 1, 2027, you must enroll by December 15, 2026 on the federal exchange. For 2027, three things have changed from recent years: the enhanced ARPA/IRA subsidies are gone, the income-based repayment caps for excess advance premium tax credit have been eliminated by the OBBBA, and the applicable percentages have shifted slightly upward per Rev. Proc. 2026-26.

Note: The open enrollment dates in this article (November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027) are based on standard federal marketplace patterns and our data file, which carries a verification flag. Confirm exact dates at healthcare.gov before making enrollment decisions.

The open enrollment window

The open enrollment period is the window each fall when anyone can enroll in or switch marketplace health plans without needing a qualifying life event. For 2027 plan year coverage:

• November 1, 2026: Open enrollment opens. You can browse plans and enroll starting on this date.
• December 15, 2026: Deadline for January 1, 2027coverage effective date on the federal marketplace. Miss this date and your coverage starts February 1 at the earliest (if you enroll before January 15).
• January 15, 2027: Last day of open enrollment on the federal marketplace. Plans selected by this date have a February 1, 2027effective date.

State-based exchanges (California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, and others) often extend open enrollment beyond January 15. Check your state exchange directly if you are in a state with its own marketplace.

Special enrollment periods

Outside the open enrollment window, you can only enroll if you experience a qualifying life event that triggers a special enrollment period (SEP). Common qualifying events include:

• Losing job-based health coverage (including COBRA expiration)
• Getting married or entering a domestic partnership
• Having, adopting, or fostering a child
• Moving to a new coverage area (with new plan options)
• Losing eligibility for Medicaid or CHIP
• Gaining citizenship, naturalization, or lawful presence
• Leaving incarceration

You typically have 60 days from the qualifying event to enroll. Coverage usually begins the first of the month following enrollment, though losing coverage may allow earlier effective dates.

What changed for 2027

Three significant changes affect 2027 marketplace coverage compared to recent plan years:

1. Enhanced ARPA/IRA subsidies have expired

The American Rescue Plan Act (2021) dramatically expanded ACA subsidies by eliminating the 400% FPL income cutoff and capping required contributions at 8.5% of income for all income levels. The Inflation Reduction Act extended those enhancements through 2025. Neither extension survived into2027. The OBBBA did not extend enhanced subsidies.

For 2027, subsidies revert to the pre-ARPA rules. The applicable percentage table from Rev. Proc. 2026-26 sets required contributions at2.15% of income at the low end (100-133% FPL) and10.22% at the high end (300-400% FPL). People who earned between 400% and 600% of FPL and received subsidies in 2024 or 2025 under ARPA rules are no longer eligible.

2. The 400% FPL cliff has returned

Income above 400% of the federal poverty level disqualifies you from any subsidy. Using the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines (which apply to 2027 coverage under the prior-year rule):

• 1-person household: cliff at $63,840(400% of $15,960)
• 4-person household: cliff at $132,000(400% of $33,000)

If your income is near these thresholds, managing your MAGI before year-end (through traditional IRA contributions, HSA contributions, or similar above-the-line deductions) can make a significant difference.

3. Repayment caps eliminated by OBBBA

In prior years, the amount of excess APTC you had to repay was capped based on income. That protection no longer exists. The OBBBA amended IRC §36B(f)(2) to eliminate the income-based repayment caps effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025. For 2027 coverage reconciled on your 2027 tax return, you must repay the full amount of any excess advance premium tax credit, regardless of income level.

This makes income estimation more important than ever. If your income increases during the year, update your marketplace income estimate promptly. A large underestimate can result in a significant tax bill the following April with no cap on the repayment amount.

Subsidy eligibility in 2027

To be eligible for the premium tax credit in 2027, you must:

• Enroll in a qualified health plan through the marketplace (not Medicaid or Medicare)
• Have household income between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level
• Not be eligible for affordable employer-sponsored coverage (affordable means the employee share does not exceed 10.22% of household income under the 2027 required contribution percentage)
• Not be eligible for Medicaid, CHIP, or Medicare
• File a federal tax return (married couples must generally file jointly)

Action items before November 1

With open enrollment opening November 1, 2026, the steps to take now include:

1. Estimate your 2027 household income. Use your expected Schedule C profit, W-2 wages, and other income sources. Remember that above-the-line deductions (traditional IRA, SE health insurance, SE tax deduction) reduce MAGI.
2. Check FPL thresholds. Know where your income falls relative to the 100-400% FPL band. The subsidy cliff at 400% FPL is hard; going $1 over means $0 in subsidies.
3. Compare plans using your actual expected subsidy. Use the calculator on this site or healthcare.gov's plan comparison tool to estimate your net premium after the credit.
4. Consider MAGI-reduction strategies if you are near the cliff.A traditional IRA contribution of $7,500or a SEP-IRA contribution could pull you below the threshold.
5. Note state exchange deadlines separately. If your state runs its own exchange, its open enrollment dates and deadline for January 1 coverage may differ from the federal timeline.

For subsidy calculations, see the ACA premium tax credit calculator. For the interaction between OBBBA deductions and ACA subsidies, see Do OBBBA Deductions Affect Your ACA Subsidy?