Open enrollment for 2027 coverage starts November 1.
If you buy your own health insurance, open enrollment is the one time each year you can sign up, renew, or switch plans without a special reason. Here are the dates that matter and what to have ready.
The dates
November 1, 2026: open enrollment starts.
December 15, 2026: in most states, the last day to enroll if you want coverage in force on January 1.
January 15, 2027: open enrollment ends on healthcare.gov.
The closing date is not the same in every state, because some states run their own exchange and go later. Virginia is one of them. Enroll after December 15 and your coverage usually starts later than January 1, so a plan that ends December 31 can leave you with a gap.
If you already have a marketplace plan
Do not assume it renews the way you want. Plans and prices change every year. The income estimate you give for 2027 also matters, because any difference between that estimate and what you actually earn is settled on your tax return. It is worth a fresh look before December 15.
Outside open enrollment
If you lose job-based coverage, move, get married, or have a baby, you usually get a special enrollment period of about 60 days. Here is how that works if your coverage is ending.
What to have ready
Names and dates of birth for everyone who needs coverage
Your zip code
Your best estimate of household income for 2027
The doctors you want to keep and the prescriptions you take
The date your current plan ends, if you have one
Where to start
I am an independent agent. Tell me your situation and I will show you what you actually qualify for, then help you enroll. There is no fee for my help.
Or pick a time and I'll call you
Jacob Drake, licensed health insurance agent, NPN 16627547. HealthMarkets, 2021 Richard Jones Rd, Suite 200, Nashville, TN 37215. Licensed in Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina and Virginia.