Open enrollment for 2027 health coverage on HealthCare.gov runs through January 15, 2027, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said in a fact sheet, and December 15 is the last day to enroll for coverage that starts January 1, according to the dates and deadlines page on HealthCare.gov. The federal government operates the Health Insurance Marketplace, available at HealthCare.gov, for most states, and some states run their own Marketplaces, the site's glossary says.
The dates for 2027 coverage
The agency said in the fact sheet, dated October 30, 2026, that the open enrollment period for 2027 HealthCare.gov coverage "begins on November 1, 2026, and runs through January 15, 2027." The HealthCare.gov schedule gives these steps.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| November 1 | Open enrollment starts |
| December 15 | Last day to enroll in or change plans for coverage that starts January 1 |
| January 1 | Coverage starts for people who enrolled by December 15 and paid their first premium |
| January 15 | Open enrollment ends |
| February 1 | Coverage starts for people who enrolled from December 16 through January 15 and paid their first premium |
What happens after the deadline
After January 15, a person can enroll in or change Marketplace plans only by qualifying for a Special Enrollment Period, HealthCare.gov says. The site describes that as a period outside open enrollment when a person can enroll because of a life event, such as getting married, having a baby, moving or losing health coverage. It also says people can apply for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program at any time.
States with their own Marketplace
These dates are the ones HealthCare.gov publishes. HealthCare.gov says that how a person applies depends on whether their state has its own Marketplace, and it directs people to pick their state to find out how to get coverage.