Top Tips for Consumers During Open Enrollment

The annual open enrollment period for Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace coverage is currently under way in every state. An estimated 4.6 million people dropped their marketplace coverage between June 2025 and June 2026 after Congress failed to extend the premium tax credit enhancements which helped make coverage more affordable for more than 90% of marketplace enrollees. With insurers proposing another significant premium increase this year (14.6% on average), many shoppers will find their premiums for next year to be even higher than they were this year. 

During the open enrollment period, new and existing marketplace enrollees can shop for the plan that works best for them and their family. People who are uninsured and don’t have an affordable offer of coverage through an employer or through Medicaid or Medicare should consider enrolling. It’s important that people act quickly — after the deadline in January, people can only enroll in marketplace plans in very limited circumstances. There is no one-size-fits-all best option, but here are 10 tips for consumers thinking about enrolling or re-enrolling in an ACA marketplace health insurance plan for 2027: 

1. Know the dates. In most states, this year’s open enrollment runs from November 1 to January 15.

2. Navigators and assisters provide free enrollment help. People in every state can get free, unbiased application and enrollment help from navigators and other assisters, available in-person, over the phone, or online. Navigators and assisters can answer questions specific to a household’s unique situation and specific needs.  

3. Marketplace plans offer unique protections. Choosing marketplace coverage provides several guarantees: Enrollees can access preventive services free of charge, cannot be excluded from coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions, and have an out-of-pocket maximum limit that protects against major medical debt.  

a. Beginning in 2026, the Trump Administration prohibited marketplaces from requiring marketplace plans to offer gender-affirming care, but insurance companies can still choose to cover these critical health services in their plans. 

4. To ensure that you are enrolling in an ACA marketplace plan with consumer protections, always begin at HealthCare.gov. Some states use their own platforms, of which you can navigate to from HealthCare.gov. Many websites use similar sounding names in order to scam consumers, but only plans with full consumer protections can be sold through the official platform. 

5. Beware of junk insurance plans and scams! Alternative plans sold outside the marketplace may offer “too good to be true” promises. Consumers should be aware that while these “junk plans” may be available at a lower cost, they aren’t subject to the ACA’s consumer protections and can leave consumers with higher out-of-pocket costs or less coverage than they need. For example, junk plans: 

a. May not cover essential health benefits like prescription drugs, specialist visits, or even maternity care. 

b. May exclude people from coverage based on pre-existing conditions or charge more based on health status. 

c. May pay only partially for claims for care received, or in some cases not at all, leaving people with a large medical bill for an expensive medical procedure. 

6. In 2027, premiums will be about the same or higher than they were in 2026 for enrollees who receive premium tax credits. Most people paid more for their premiums this year because the premium tax credit enhancements expired at the end of 2025. People who got financial help with their premiums this year will likely pay a similar premium for coverage in 2027 as long as their income has not changed significantly. But people who expect their income will be higher than 400% of the Federal Poverty Level ($63,840 for an individual, or $132,000 for a family of four in 2026) won’t qualify for financial help, so they will pay the full cost of their premium, which will likely be higher in 2027 than it was this year. 

7. Many lawfully present immigrants will lose eligibility for tax credits in 2027. As a result of policies enacted by Congress in 2025, only certain categories of immigrants remain eligible for premium tax credits in 2027. To qualify, a person must be a lawful permanent resident (including Green Card holders), Cuban or Haitian entrant, or Compact of Free Association (COFA) migrant. Other lawfully present immigrants may purchase full-cost coverage through the ACA marketplace, but without tax credits, premiums will be unaffordable for many.  

a. Current enrollees should ensure the marketplace has their most up to date immigration status and respond to marketplace notices requesting verification to ensure they don’t lose tax credits if they remain eligible.  

b. People who have marketplace coverage now but won’t be eligible for tax credits in 2027 may still be automatically renewed in coverage for 2027 without a tax credit, which could leave them on the hook for a very expensive premium come January. To avoid this, people should visit the marketplace during open enrollment and change plans or cancel coverage if there isn’t an affordable option.  

8. Return to the marketplace and actively update contact information and annual income projection by December 15. After December 15, the marketplace will automatically renew most people in the same plan they had this year. But plans, prices, and people’s individual circumstances change every year. To get the most accurate cost estimate and to ensure the plan is still the best option for a family’s health and financial needs, people should return to the marketplace by December 15 to update their information. 

9. New tax rules could mean surprises at tax time. Starting with the upcoming tax season, people whose actual 2026 income is higher than their projected 2026 income (on their marketplace application) will be required to repay the full difference between the credits they received based on their income projection and the amount they were ultimately eligible to receive. Previously, this amount was capped. To avoid having to repay a large amount, people should update their annual income projection every year during open enrollment and throughout the year whenever their income or household size changes. 

10. People whose coverage was cancelled in error may qualify for reinstatement. In recent months, CMS canceled marketplace coverage for more than 760,000 people who enrolled through a broker or agent. People who believe their coverage was cancelled in error should contact the marketplace call center at 800-318-2596 to request a reinstatement. 

If you have more questions about open enrollment or choosing a plan that’s right for you, make a free appointment with a local navigator or assister for reliable assistance and education. You can meet with available navigators and assisters in person, over the phone, or online. Enter your ZIP code here then select “Independent Assisters” to see who can provide help where you live.