The short answer
On HealthCare.gov, open enrollment for coverage in the coming year runs from November 1 to January 15. Enroll or change plans by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1; enrolling between December 16 and January 15 starts coverage on February 1. States that run their own marketplaces set their own dates, and some stay open later in January. If you already have a Marketplace plan and do nothing, you are usually renewed in the same or a similar plan, but your premium and tax credit can change, so update your expected income and household and compare plans before the deadline. After January 15 you can generally enroll only with a special enrollment period after a qualifying life event, such as losing other coverage, moving or having a baby. Premium tax credits generally go to households with income from 100 to 400 percent of the federal poverty level, and lower-income households can also get reduced deductibles in silver plans.
The dates that decide when coverage starts
Open enrollment has one opening date and two deadlines that matter, and the one most people should aim for is the earlier one.
| If you enroll or change plans | Coverage starts |
|---|---|
| From November 1 to December 15 | On January 1 |
| From December 16 to January 15 | On February 1 |
| After January 15 | Only with a special enrollment period |
Some states run their own marketplaces instead of using HealthCare.gov, and they can set different dates; some keep enrollment open until the end of January. Check your state's marketplace if you do not use HealthCare.gov. A plan chosen after December 15 leaves January without the new plan, which matters if you are switching from coverage that ends on December 31.
What happens if you do nothing
If you are enrolled now and take no action, the Marketplace generally renews you automatically. You stay in the same plan if it is still offered, or are moved into a similar one if it is not, and your tax credit is recalculated using the most recent information it has.
That is a safety net, not a plan. Insurers change premiums, networks and drug lists every year, and a plan that was the best value last year may not be this year. The tax credit is tied to the price of a benchmark silver plan in your area, and when that benchmark changes, your credit and your share of the premium change with it, even if your own plan's price stays the same. Automatic renewal also keeps whatever income estimate is on file, which may be out of date.
Five things to check before the deadline
- Update your application. Enter your expected income for the coming year, not last year's, and any change in your household. The credit is figured on that estimate.
- Compare plans by total cost, not premium alone. Add the yearly premium to the deductible and the out-of-pocket maximum you might reach.
- Check your doctors and hospitals in each plan's network, since networks change from year to year.
- Check your prescriptions against each plan's drug list and the cost tier they fall in.
- Look at silver plans if your income is modest. At incomes up to 250 percent of the poverty level, silver plans come with cost-sharing reductions that lower deductibles and copays, help you get only by choosing silver.
Write down your current plan's numbers first, so you have something to compare against. HealthCare.gov's plan tool shows estimated yearly costs for a typical user, which is a reasonable starting point.
If you are applying for the first time
A first application takes longer than a renewal, so start well before December 15. The Marketplace asks about everyone in your tax household, the people you will claim on your federal return, even those who are not applying for coverage.
- Social Security numbers for those applying, and immigration documents for anyone who is not a citizen.
- Income for everyone in the tax household: recent pay stubs, a recent tax return or an estimate of self-employment income for the coming year.
- Information about any job-based coverage you could get, even if you have not taken it, since an affordable offer can rule out the tax credit. HealthCare.gov's employer coverage tool lists what to ask the employer.
- Current coverage details, such as a policy number, if anyone already has insurance.
Choosing a plan is not the last step. Coverage does not take effect until you pay the first month's premium to the insurer, so watch for the bill and pay it by its due date.
Who gets help with the premium
Premium tax credits generally go to people who buy a Marketplace plan, are not eligible for affordable job-based coverage, Medicare or Medicaid, and have household income from 100 to 400 percent of the federal poverty level. The larger, temporary credits that removed the upper income limit ended after 2025, so for coverage in 2027 the 400 percent line applies again. For 2027 coverage, the line is based on the 2026 poverty guidelines: $63,840 for one person and $132,000 for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states.
The credit can be paid in advance to your insurer each month, which lowers your premium, or claimed when you file your taxes. If it is paid in advance, your actual income for the year settles the amount on your tax return, so a raise or a new job can mean paying some back; our guide to settling the credit with Form 8962 explains how. The ACA calculator estimates the credit, and our guide to Marketplace subsidies covers the formula.
If your income is low
If your income is below 138 percent of the poverty level and your state has expanded Medicaid, you will usually be directed to Medicaid instead, which can cover you at any time of year, not only during open enrollment. Children in families with somewhat higher incomes may qualify for CHIP. Our guide to Medicaid eligibility explains the limits.
Rules on immigration status are also changing. From January 1, 2027, the 2025 law narrows the groups of lawfully present immigrants who can receive the premium tax credit, so some households that qualify this year will not next year. Our guide to noncitizens and federal benefits explains who is affected.
If you miss the deadline
After January 15, you can generally enroll or switch plans only with a special enrollment period, which opens after events such as losing other health coverage, getting married, having or adopting a child, or moving to a new area, usually for 60 days. Our guide to special enrollment periods lists the events and the proof you may need.
Without one, you wait for the next open enrollment, which can mean most of a year without coverage and the full cost of any care in the meantime. People losing job coverage can also look at COBRA, which our guide to choosing after a job loss compares with the Marketplace. Medicaid and CHIP are the exception to the calendar: you can apply for them in any month.
Where to get free help
Trained assisters, often called navigators, help people compare plans and apply at no cost; HealthCare.gov's local help search lists them by ZIP code, and the Marketplace call center is at 1-800-318-2596. Licensed agents and brokers can also enroll you, and are paid by insurers rather than by you. Be wary of anyone who asks for payment to enroll you, or who calls offering a plan you did not ask about: some sellers have switched people's plans without their consent, so check your account after any call.
Common questions
What is the last day to sign up for a Marketplace plan that starts January 1?
December 15 on HealthCare.gov. If you enroll between December 16 and January 15, coverage starts February 1. State-run marketplaces may set different dates.
Will my Marketplace plan renew automatically?
Usually, yes, in the same or a similar plan. But the premium and the tax credit can change, so update your income and compare plans before December 15.
Can I get a Marketplace tax credit if I earn more than 400 percent of the poverty level?
Not for 2026 or 2027 coverage. The temporary rule that removed the upper limit ended after 2025, so the credit generally stops at 400 percent of the poverty level.
Official sources
Put December 15 on the calendar
Set aside an hour in early December: update your income, compare three or four plans on total cost, and confirm your doctors and drugs. Then check your account in January to make sure the plan you chose is the one you have. The ACA calculator gives a quick estimate of the credit before you start.
