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If you use HealthCare.gov, Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from November 1 through December 15, 2026. That is a shorter window than in recent years.
Medicare uses a different calendar. Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026, with most changes taking effect January 1, 2027.
Employer health insurance is different again. Your company sets its own enrollment dates.
There is also a big cost change this year. The enhanced ACA subsidies that were available through 2025 have expired. Premium tax credits still exist, but households above 400% of the federal poverty level generally no longer qualify.
Key takeaways
- HealthCare.gov: November 1 through December 15, 2026 for 2027 coverage.
- State Marketplaces can use different dates. Their enrollment periods must follow new federal timing rules.
- Medicare Open Enrollment: October 15 through December 7, 2026.
- Employer open enrollment: dates vary by company.
- The temporary enhanced ACA subsidies ended after 2025.
- Do not compare plans based only on the monthly premium. Check the deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, prescriptions, and provider network too.
- Starting in 2026, more Bronze and Catastrophic individual plans can qualify for HSA contributions under the new federal rules.
- The 2027 HSA contribution limit is $4,500 for self-only coverage and $9,000 for family coverage.
When is ACA Open Enrollment in 2026?
This can be confusing because people use “open enrollment 2026” in two different ways.
The enrollment period that ran from late 2025 into early 2026 was for 2026 health coverage.
The next enrollment period starts in November 2026 and is for 2027 coverage.
For people using HealthCare.gov, the 2027 Open Enrollment Period is:
November 1 through December 15, 2026.
That is a major change.
In recent years, HealthCare.gov enrollment continued through January 15. CMS shortened the federal Marketplace window beginning with coverage for plan year 2027.
If your state runs its own Marketplace, your deadline may be different.
Under the new federal rules, state Marketplace enrollment periods:
- must begin no later than November 1,
- must end no later than December 31,
- cannot last more than nine calendar weeks,
- and must provide January 1 coverage for Open Enrollment sign-ups.
So if you do not use HealthCare.gov, check your state Marketplace directly.
For the full ACA calendar, see our ACA Marketplace 2027 enrollment guide.
Open enrollment dates at a glance
| Coverage | 2026 enrollment window | Coverage affected |
|---|---|---|
| HealthCare.gov Marketplace | Nov. 1 to Dec. 15, 2026 | 2027 individual and family coverage |
| State-based Marketplace | Varies within federal rules | 2027 individual and family coverage |
| Medicare Open Enrollment | Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, 2026 | Medicare coverage for 2027 |
| Employer health insurance | Varies by employer | Usually the next plan year |
Medicare and the ACA Marketplace are separate systems.
If you are approaching Medicare eligibility, do not assume the Marketplace rules, dates, or subsidies continue to work the same way once Medicare becomes available.
What happened to ACA subsidies?
The ACA Premium Tax Credit still exists.
What ended was the temporary enhanced version of the credit that was available from 2021 through 2025.
Starting in 2026, the old income limit returned.
In general, households with income between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level may qualify for a Premium Tax Credit if they meet the other requirements.
Households above 400% FPL generally no longer qualify.
This change has already made Marketplace coverage more expensive for many people.
KFF found that the average monthly amount Marketplace consumers paid after tax credits increased from:
$113 in 2025
to:
$178 in 2026
That is a 58% increase.
It does not mean everyone will pay 58% more in 2027. Your actual cost depends on your income, household size, location, available plans, and the subsidy you qualify for.
For more detail, see why ACA Marketplace premiums increased in 2026.
One tax change Marketplace users should know
If you choose to receive your Premium Tax Credit in advance, the Marketplace sends that money directly to your insurer and lowers the premium you pay each month.
The amount is based partly on the income you expect to earn during the year.
Later, when you file your tax return, you compare:
the subsidy you received
with:
the subsidy you actually qualified for
using Form 8962.
Starting with tax year 2026, there is no longer an income-based cap on how much excess advance Premium Tax Credit you may have to repay.
So if you receive more subsidy than you qualify for, you can be required to repay the full excess amount.
This is especially important for freelancers and anyone whose income changes during the year.
If your expected income changes significantly, update your Marketplace application instead of waiting until tax season.
Our health insurance guide for freelancers explains this in more detail.
How should you compare health plans?
Do not start with:
“Should I choose an HMO or an HDHP?”
Those terms describe different parts of a health plan.
HMO, PPO, EPO, and POS describe how the provider network works.
HDHP and HSA eligibility describe cost-sharing and whether the plan can work with a Health Savings Account.
A plan can therefore be both:
a PPO and HSA-eligible
or:
an HMO and HSA-eligible.
Start with the provider network
An HMO generally expects you to use providers inside its network except in emergencies.
A PPO usually lets you use both in-network and out-of-network providers, although out-of-network care normally costs more.
An EPO generally covers non-emergency care only inside its network.
But actual rules can vary by plan.
For example, do not assume every HMO requires the same referral process. Read the plan documents.
If keeping a doctor or hospital matters to you, check the plan’s provider directory before enrolling. When possible, confirm directly with the provider too.
For a fuller explanation, see our HMO vs PPO vs EPO vs HDHP comparison.
Do not choose a plan based only on the premium
Marketplace plans are also grouped into metal levels:
- Bronze
- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum
These levels describe how costs are generally shared between you and the insurance company.
They do not tell you whether one plan offers better-quality medical care.
A $200 monthly plan is not automatically cheaper than a $300 plan once you actually use healthcare.
Compare:
- monthly premium after any subsidy,
- deductible,
- copays,
- coinsurance,
- prescription coverage,
- provider network,
- out-of-pocket maximum,
- and how much healthcare you expect to use.
The useful question is:
What is this plan likely to cost me over the whole year?
not simply:
Which plan has the cheapest premium?
Should you choose an HSA-eligible plan?
An HSA can be valuable because eligible contributions receive federal tax advantages, unused money can stay in the account from year to year, and qualified medical expenses can be paid tax-free.
But that does not mean an HSA-compatible health plan is automatically the best plan.
Start with the insurance itself.
Ask:
How much will I pay in premiums over the year?
What happens if I need regular medical care?
Could I comfortably pay the deductible if I had an unexpected medical problem?
What is the maximum amount I might have to pay out of pocket?
If you regularly use expensive prescriptions, specialists, therapy, imaging, or other care, a plan with a higher premium but lower medical costs may work better.
If you use little healthcare and have enough savings to handle a higher deductible, an HSA-compatible plan may be more attractive.
For a side-by-side comparison, see HDHP vs PPO in 2026.
HSA eligibility became broader in 2026
Starting January 1, 2026, federal law expanded HSA eligibility for certain individual health plans.
Bronze and Catastrophic plans that meet the new rules can now be treated as HSA-compatible, even when they do not meet the usual HDHP deductible rules.
This gives more people access to HSAs.
But it does not mean every Bronze or Catastrophic plan is automatically the best choice.
Catastrophic plans also have their own eligibility rules, and you generally cannot use the Premium Tax Credit with catastrophic coverage.
Always compare the actual coverage and costs before choosing a plan just because it works with an HSA.
What is the HSA contribution limit for 2027?
Because Open Enrollment in late 2026 is mainly about choosing coverage for 2027, these are the HSA limits most people will want to know:
| HSA coverage | 2027 contribution limit |
|---|---|
| Self-only | $4,500 |
| Family | $9,000 |
| Age 55+ catch-up | Additional $1,000 |
For 2027, the general HDHP thresholds are:
| HDHP rule | Self-only | Family |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deductible | $1,750 | $3,500 |
| Maximum out-of-pocket expenses | $8,700 | $17,400 |
Remember that the new Bronze and Catastrophic HSA rules can create exceptions to the usual HDHP requirements.
If you are contributing for calendar year 2026, the HSA contribution limits are instead:
- $4,400 for self-only coverage
- $8,750 for family coverage
For more detail, see our HSA vs FSA comparison.
What if you buy your own health insurance?
Freelancers, gig workers, consultants, and other self-employed people may have several options:
- ACA Marketplace coverage
- an ACA-compliant individual plan outside the Marketplace
- a spouse’s employer plan
- COBRA after leaving a job
- Medicaid or CHIP if eligible
If you want a federal Premium Tax Credit, you generally need to buy qualifying coverage through the Marketplace.
Do not assume the subsidy you received this year will stay the same next year.
Update your expected household income and compare what you would actually pay after any tax credit.
This is particularly important for self-employed people because income can change quickly.
See our health insurance guide for freelancers and gig workers for the tax and coverage rules.
What if you miss Marketplace Open Enrollment?
Missing the annual deadline does not always mean you have to wait another year.
You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, or SEP, after certain life events.
Examples can include:
- losing qualifying health coverage,
- getting married,
- having a baby,
- adopting a child,
- or certain moves.
But not every event uses exactly the same deadline.
HealthCare.gov says many common SEPs give you a window around the qualifying event, often 60 days before or after it. Some situations use different rules.
For example, losing Medicaid or CHIP can come with a longer enrollment window.
See what happens if you miss ACA Open Enrollment for a fuller explanation.
Medicare Open Enrollment in fall 2026
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from:
October 15 through December 7, 2026.
Changes made during this period generally take effect:
January 1, 2027.
Depending on your current coverage, you may be able to:
- move from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage,
- move from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare,
- switch Medicare Advantage plans,
- join a Medicare drug plan,
- switch drug plans,
- or drop Medicare drug coverage.
There is also a separate Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 through March 31.
That period is only for people already enrolled in Medicare Advantage and offers fewer types of changes.
For 2026, the standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 per month, and the annual Part B deductible is $283.
Those are 2026 figures.
If you are choosing Medicare coverage for 2027, check the official 2027 Medicare premiums and plan information after they are released rather than assuming the 2026 amounts will stay the same.
For more help, see our Medicare Open Enrollment 2026 guide and Original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage comparison.
A simple open enrollment checklist
Before automatically renewing your current plan, check these six things.
1. Your deadline
Make sure you know which enrollment calendar applies to you.
HealthCare.gov, state Marketplaces, Medicare, and employer plans do not all use the same dates.
2. What you will actually pay each month
Look at your premium after any Marketplace tax credit or employer contribution.
Do not compare full-price coverage with subsidized coverage unless you actually qualify for that subsidy.
3. Your doctors and hospitals
Make sure the providers you want are still in the network for 2027.
Networks can change even if you stay with the same insurance company.
4. Your prescriptions
Check whether your medications are covered and what tier they are on.
Also check:
- copays,
- coinsurance,
- prior authorization rules,
- and the pharmacy network.
5. Your worst-case cost
Look at both the deductible and the out-of-pocket maximum.
A low premium can look attractive until you see how much you could owe if you need significant medical care.
6. Your HSA eligibility
If you want to contribute to an HSA, confirm that your coverage qualifies.
Also make sure you use the correct contribution limit for the calendar year.
FAQ
When is Open Enrollment in 2026?
For 2027 coverage through HealthCare.gov, Open Enrollment runs from November 1 through December 15, 2026.
State-based Marketplaces can use different dates within federal rules.
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026.
Employer enrollment dates vary by company.
Is ACA Open Enrollment still open until January 15?
Not for HealthCare.gov coverage beginning in 2027.
The federal Marketplace window was shortened to November 1 through December 15, 2026.
State Marketplace dates can differ.
Can I still get an ACA subsidy in 2027?
Yes, the Premium Tax Credit still exists.
Under current federal rules, households with income between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level may generally qualify if they meet the other requirements.
The temporary rules that allowed some households above 400% FPL to receive the credit ended after 2025.
What is the HSA contribution limit for 2027?
The limit is $4,500 for self-only coverage and $9,000 for family coverage.
Eligible people age 55 and older can generally contribute an additional $1,000.
Is an HDHP the same as a PPO or HMO?
No.
HMO, PPO, and EPO mainly describe how the provider network works.
HDHP and HSA eligibility relate more to the plan’s costs and tax rules.
A single plan can have both characteristics.
What if I miss the Marketplace deadline?
You may still be able to enroll if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period after certain life events.
Medicaid and CHIP also accept applications year-round for people who qualify.
When is Medicare Open Enrollment in 2026?
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026.
Most changes take effect January 1, 2027.
Bottom line
The most important ACA deadline for the 2026 enrollment season is December 15.
If you use HealthCare.gov, you have from November 1 through December 15, 2026 to choose Marketplace coverage for 2027.
State Marketplace deadlines can differ, so check your state’s exchange if you do not use HealthCare.gov.
Medicare follows its own schedule, with Open Enrollment running from October 15 through December 7, 2026.
Whatever type of coverage you are choosing, do not renew based only on last year’s premium.
Check:
- what you will actually pay each month,
- your doctors and hospitals,
- prescriptions,
- deductible,
- out-of-pocket maximum,
- and HSA eligibility.
The cheapest monthly premium is not always the cheapest health plan once you actually need care.
This article is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical, insurance, tax, financial, or legal advice. Marketplace rules, plan availability, premiums, subsidies, networks, and enrollment dates can change. Verify your enrollment deadline and plan details with the official Marketplace, Medicare, your employer, or a licensed enrollment professional before making coverage decisions.
