Open Enrollment 2027: December 15 or January 15 — which date is yours

What you read in the summer is not what applies now

Many people put off health coverage until after the holidays. The habit makes sense: for several years in a row, enrollment ran until January 15, and it always felt like there was still time. Once the holiday rush is over, we’ll sit down and sort it out.

This summer, that habit was called into question. The news reported that enrollment would be shortened and December 15 would become the last day. Then came headlines saying it had all been reversed. If you’re not entirely sure which date is right, you’re not alone: even people who have enrolled for years are confused.

Here is what happened, in short. In 2025, the federal government adopted a rule under which open enrollment in most states would have ended on December 15. In June 2026, a court struck the rule down, and in August the government confirmed that this season enrollment in Texas and most other states follows the usual schedule. An appeal is still pending, and the rules may change again next year. But for 2027 coverage, everything is already settled.

Three dates to remember

November 1, 2026 — open enrollment begins. From this day on, you can sign up for a new plan or change your current one.

December 15 — the last day to have coverage start on January 1, 2027. After choosing a plan, remember to pay your first premium on time: without payment the policy won’t be activated, even if everything else is done right.

January 15, 2027 — enrollment closes. Any plan chosen between December 16 and January 15 starts only on February 1.

Some states run their own exchanges with their own deadlines. For example, in California, New York and New Jersey enrollment lasts until January 31, while in Idaho it ends as early as December 15. If you don’t live in Texas, message us and we’ll confirm the dates for your state.

Why January 15 is not the real deadline

Technically, you can make it by mid-January. But that date has a cost people rarely talk about. If you choose a plan on January 10, it starts only on February 1, and you spend all of January without coverage.

A month seems short until something happens. A primary care visit without insurance usually costs $80 to $150, an emergency room visit easily runs to several thousand dollars, and a day in the hospital costs even more. You can’t get coverage retroactively: the January bill stays yours, even if from February on you have the best plan on the market.

Choosing a plan by December 15 is the only way to start 2027 without a gap in coverage.

People who already have a plan often think this doesn’t apply to them: the coverage will renew on its own. Usually it does, but it renews on new terms. Your premium may go up, your doctor may leave the network, and your subsidy may be recalculated.

For some immigrants, the changes will be especially noticeable. Starting January 1, 2027, many categories of lawfully present immigrants, other than green card holders, lose eligibility for the premium tax credit. Finding this out in January from a bill is much worse than in November, when you can still change something.

If you miss January 15 too

Then the next open enrollment won’t come until November 2027. Until then, you can sign up for a plan only after a qualifying life event: a move, marriage, the birth of a child, loss of job-based coverage, or getting a new immigration status. This is a special enrollment period, and it usually lasts 60 days.

Medicaid and CHIP accept applications year-round, with no enrollment periods. But in Texas, Medicaid is available to a very narrow group of adults, so for most families it isn’t a solution.

You can also enroll on your own, and many people do. It just means every decision is on you: estimating next year’s income correctly, checking whether your doctor is in network, choosing between bronze, silver and gold plans. An income mistake doesn’t show up right away. It surfaces in the spring, when you file your taxes.

The subsidy is based on your projected income for 2027. If your actual income turns out higher, you may have to pay back the difference when you file your tax return.

How we can help

Averon Insurance is a licensed insurance broker. We enroll you in plans through the official system and only with your consent: no change happens without your confirmation. You keep a personal account where you can see your policy status, and you get notified if anything changes.

Our help is free for clients. We are paid by the insurance company, and the price of the plan is the same as if you enrolled on your own.

Before December 15, we can do one of two things: review your current plan for 2027 or find a new one if you don’t have coverage yet.

Two scenarios, and there is still time in both

If you already have coverage, fifteen minutes is enough. We’ll compare your 2027 plan with what’s offered this season and check your subsidy and doctors. If everything is fine, you change nothing. If not, you’ll have time to switch to another plan calmly before December 15.

If you don’t have coverage, start with a short conversation. We’ll need your household size, your approximate income for next year and your status. We’ll find a plan and enroll you so your coverage starts on January 1.

And the main takeaway from this article: enrollment lasts until January 15, but you should plan for December 15. Then the new year will start without unexpected bills.

Legal information

This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. The deadlines are given for states that use the federal exchange; states with their own exchanges may have different dates. Subsidy eligibility, the premium amount and available plans depend on your income, state of residence and immigration status. ACA Marketplace rules changed several times in 2026–2027. The date of the last update is shown at the top of the page.

Averon Insurance (Sergei Nesterov, LLC) is a licensed insurance broker. Texas resident license, NPN: 22255483. Full list of licenses.