Open enrollment 2027: the deadline is January 15, 2027

A lot of what the internet says about open enrollment dates is stale or contradictory. Current, as of this page's review date:

The 2027 window

In the 29 states using HealthCare.gov: November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Your enrollment date sets when coverage starts:

• Enroll by December 15, 2026 → coverage starts January 1, 2027.
• Enroll December 16, 2026 to January 15, 2027 → coverage starts February 1, 2027.

So January 15 is the real last call, but December 15 is the date to hit if you want to be covered on New Year's Day with no gap. [VERIFY AT BUILD: confirm the exact PY2027 dates against the final NBPP and each state exchange before OEP.]

State exchanges may differ

States running their own marketplaces set their own windows — some run later than January 15, some start early (Georgia and Idaho have historically opened before November 1). If you're in one of those states, our ZIP box will tell you honestly and point you to the official exchange — check its dates there, not here.

Why it still pays to shop early

Auto-renewal is a worse default than it used to be: premiums moved by double digits two years running, carriers exited markets (Aetna left the ACA marketplaces entirely in 2026), and the subsidy rules may change again mid-stream if Congress acts — our tracker follows that. A renewal notice that looks "fine" can hide a better plan two clicks away. Start when window shopping opens in late October — and if you want a seamless January 1 start, treat December 15, not January 15, as your deadline.

If you do miss it

Your options for 2027: a qualifying life event (loss of coverage, move, marriage, birth, turning 26 — each with its own 60-day window), Medicaid or CHIP if income-eligible (year-round), and honestly assessed gap options if neither applies. What you shouldn't do is wait uninsured for November 2027 without checking the year-round doors first.

The calendar, in one place

• Late October 2026: window shopping opens — browse 2027 plans and prices without enrolling.
• November 1, 2026: enrollment opens.
• December 15, 2026: enroll by this date for coverage starting January 1, 2027.
• December 16, 2026 – January 15, 2027: still enrolling; coverage starts February 1, 2027.
• January 15, 2027: open enrollment closes.
• After January 15: SEP or Medicaid pathways only.