If you buy your own health insurance, the next few weeks matter more than usual. Marketplace open enrollment for 2027 coverage opens on November 1, 2026, and this year brings a combination shoppers have not faced before: another year of double-digit premium increases, plus a subsidy rule change that could leave some higher earners with no help at all.
This guide is for people without employer coverage — freelancers, gig workers, part-timers, and early retirees who shop on the Marketplace. That is a different decision from choosing a plan through a job, and it deserves its own checklist.
You do not need to be a health insurance expert to choose well. Know three dates, understand four metal tiers, check your subsidy, and do not let last year’s plan roll over untouched.
What Changed for 2027
Three changes shape this year’s shopping season.
First, premiums are rising again. Insurers proposed a median premium increase of about 14 to 15 percent for 2027, according to a Peterson-KFF analysis of filings across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. That follows a median finalized increase of 20 percent for 2026. This is the second straight year of double-digit increases, so a plan that felt affordable two years ago may look very different today.
Second, the enhanced premium tax credits have expired. Those credits ended on December 31, 2025. The original subsidy cliff is back: there is no premium tax credit above 400 percent of the federal poverty level, about $63,840 for a single person for 2027, using 2026 poverty guidelines. Earn above that line and the full premium is on you, even if it takes a large share of your income.
Third, deductibles have climbed. The average Marketplace deductible rose from $2,759 in 2025 to $3,786 in 2026, up 37 percent, according to KFF, as enhanced credits expired and shoppers moved toward higher-deductible plans. So look past the monthly premium and check the deductible, copays, and out-of-pocket maximum on every plan you consider.
The 3 Deadlines You Cannot Miss
Marketplace open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 in most states. Washington, D.C. runs through January 31, 2027.
Enroll by December 15, 2026 if you want coverage starting January 1, 2027. Miss that date and you risk starting the year uninsured, even if you enroll later in the window. Enroll after December 15 and your coverage generally starts later, leaving a gap you must bridge on your own.
The final deadline is January 15, 2027 in most states. After that, the window closes, and you generally cannot enroll until the next open enrollment unless you qualify for a special enrollment period, such as losing other coverage or moving. Treat January 15 as a hard stop, not a soft target.
Aim to finish your comparison and application in November, leaving time to fix an error or call the Marketplace if something looks wrong. If you are also sorting out other year-end tasks, our guide to Year-End Money Moves: 9 Things to Do Before December 31 can help keep the rest of your checklist in order while you shop.
Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum in Plain English
Marketplace plans are grouped into metal tiers. The metal does not describe quality. It describes how costs are split between you and the insurer, on average, for covered services.
Bronze plans have the lowest monthly premiums and the highest costs when you need care. They suit people who are generally healthy, rarely see a doctor, and want protection mainly against a major, expensive event. The trade-off is real: a low premium can come with a high deductible, so one hospital visit or a series of tests can cost thousands before the plan picks up much of the bill.
Silver plans sit in the middle, with higher premiums than Bronze and lower costs when you need care. Silver also matters most for subsidies, because subsidies are pegged to the second-lowest-cost Silver plan in your area, known as the benchmark plan. If you qualify for a premium tax credit, it is calculated around that benchmark — one reason Silver deserves a close look even if Bronze looks cheaper at first glance.
Gold plans have higher monthly premiums and lower costs when you need care. They can make sense if you see doctors regularly, take ongoing prescriptions, or expect planned care during the year. The higher premium buys predictability: less surprise spending at the pharmacy or the specialist’s office.
Platinum plans have the highest premiums and the lowest costs when you need care. They are the least common choice, but they can suit someone with significant, predictable medical needs who would rather pay more each month and less at the point of care.
The right tier depends on your real life, not a label. Compare the total picture — premium plus deductible plus copays — rather than the premium alone.
How to Check Your Subsidy Before You Choose
Do not assume your subsidy is the same as last year’s. With enhanced credits gone and premiums moving again, last year’s number may be badly out of date.
Start at HealthCare.gov, or your state exchange if your state runs its own Marketplace. Enter your household details and your estimated income for 2027, and the site will show whether you qualify for a premium tax credit and how large it is. This step costs nothing, and it changes the math on every plan you compare.
It matters because subsidies are tied to the benchmark Silver plan in your area, so when the benchmark premium rises, the subsidy can rise too. Shopping around is therefore worth more this year: a plan that was a poor deal last year may be competitive now.
It also matters because of the cliff. In 2026, 87 percent of Marketplace enrollees received a premium subsidy, showing how common help has been. But with the original cliff back, someone just above about $63,840 as a single person gets no premium tax credit at all. If your income sits near that line, estimate it carefully, use your best realistic figure rather than a guess, and update your application if your income changes during the year.
A Worked Example: What Rising Premiums Actually Look Like
Consider an illustration from KFF: a 40-year-old in Indianapolis earning $65,000 a year. With enhanced credits in place, that person’s Silver plan cost $316 a month in 2025. In 2026, after enhanced credits expired, the same comparison rose to $477 a month. If proposed rates for 2027 are approved, it would rise again to $546 a month.
That example also shows the cliff in action. At $65,000, this shopper sits just above the roughly $63,840 threshold for a single person, in the zone where the original subsidy rules offer no premium tax credit. The jump from $316 to $546 is not a small adjustment. It shows how much the end of enhanced credits changed the picture for people in this income range.
Put that monthly figure into annual terms, using simple illustrative arithmetic: $546 multiplied by 12 equals $6,552 per year in gross premiums. That is the starting point, before any subsidy is applied. If a subsidy covers part of that amount, the net cost falls — but only if you check the benchmark plan in your area and claim what you qualify for. Two shoppers in different counties can face very different net prices for similar coverage, simply because their local benchmark plans differ.
The Auto-Renew Trap
The easiest mistake this year is also the most expensive: letting your plan auto-renew without checking it.
Auto-renewal sounds convenient, but your plan’s premium, deductible, provider network, and prescription coverage may all have changed for 2027. Your doctors may no longer be in network. A prescription you rely on may have moved to a higher cost tier. Your subsidy may have changed, so the net premium you actually pay could differ greatly from last year’s.
Re-shopping does not mean you must switch plans. It means comparing your current plan, as it will exist in 2027, against the other options in your area, with your updated subsidy applied. If your current plan still wins, renew it with confidence. If it does not, switch before the window closes. A few hours of comparison in November can save hundreds or thousands of dollars across the year.
For a broader look at employer-side open enrollment decisions, see Open Enrollment: How to Choose Your Health Insurance and 401(k) Options This Year. This post stays focused on Marketplace shopping for people without employer coverage.
5 Mistakes to Avoid
First, shopping on premium alone. The cheapest monthly payment can carry the highest deductible and the highest costs when you actually need care. Compare the full cost picture.
Second, skipping the subsidy check. Even if you did not qualify last year, or qualified for a different amount, check again for 2027. Premiums and benchmark plans have moved, and your income estimate may have changed too.
Third, ignoring the provider network. A plan is only useful if your doctors, hospital, and pharmacy are in network. Check each one by name before you enroll, not after your first appointment.
Fourth, forgetting prescriptions. Look up every regular medication on each plan you consider, including its cost tier and whether prior authorization is required. Prescription costs can quietly erase a premium saving.
Fifth, waiting until January. Late enrollment compresses your time to fix errors and can delay your start date. Shop early, enroll by December 15 if you want January 1 coverage, and keep January 15 as your backstop, not your plan.
FAQ
Do I need to do anything if I am happy with my current plan? Yes — at minimum, review it. Check the 2027 premium, deductible, network, and prescription coverage, and confirm your subsidy. If it still fits, renew it deliberately rather than by default.
Is a Bronze plan always the cheapest overall? Not necessarily. Bronze usually has the lowest premium, but the highest costs when you need care. If you use care regularly, a Silver or Gold plan can cost less in total across the year.
Bottom Line
Open enrollment for 2027 is not a form to rush through. With premiums up for a second straight year, enhanced credits expired, deductibles higher, and the subsidy cliff back, the shoppers who do best this year will be the ones who compare carefully and check their subsidy before they choose.
Start early. Note the three dates: November 1, December 15, and January 15. Compare tiers on total cost, not premium alone, check your doctors and prescriptions, and do not let auto-renewal decide for you.