Health Insurance Open Enrollment: What’s New This Year, and What to Expect

Open enrollment for 2027 Marketplace coverage starts November 1. But before you decide on your insurance plans for the next year, it’s important to know that a few things are different this time around. Due to the changes detailed below, we strongly recommend that you start this process early and give yourself more time than you did last year.

Quick Reminder: Open Enrollment Dates

Open enrollment runs from November 1 through January 15. If you want coverage to begin on January 1, you will need to pick your plan by December 15. If you wait and sign up between December 16 and January 15, your coverage will not begin until February 1.

If you want a January 1 start, the best time to book an appointment with a broker is right now. Calendars fill up quickly in November and December.

Two New Steps in the Process

This year you may be required to verify your identity when you apply, and you will also be asked to authorize the broker you’re working with.

The authorization part is easy and straightforward. You will get a text or an email notifying you that a broker is trying to access your application. Once you grant permission, your broker can work on your application with you.

This doesn’t commit you to anything, and it doesn’t require you to pay us. Insurance carriers compensate brokers, so our help costs you nothing.

Your identity check will require a photo ID and verification. You may also be asked to verify your income through pay stubs, W-2s, or a tax return. Make sure you are prepared with all the necessary documentation.

Your Income Estimate Matters

Your healthcare premium subsidy is based on your household size and the income you expect to earn in 2027. Starting with the 2026 tax year, which you’ll file in spring 2027, there is no longer a cap on how much of an overpaid subsidy you have to pay back. If your income ends up higher than what you estimated, you may owe the full difference at tax time.

This is where a lot of people get tripped up. Think about whether you got a raise (or if you’re expecting one), what your spouse earns, whether you plan to work a side gig or a second job, and if you might take money out of a retirement account.

If your income or household changes during the year, make sure to tell your broker within 30 days. A raise, a pay cut, a new baby, and a spouse starting a new job can all change your subsidy, and we can update your application so your monthly premium stays accurate.

No More Special Enrollment for Low Income

In the past, households at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level could enroll at any time of year. That special enrollment period is now gone, and the federal rules that ended it apply beyond 2026.

You now need a qualifying life event, such as losing other health coverage, moving, or having a baby in order to access the marketplace outside of the open enrollment period. A drop in income by itself no longer counts.

What Plans Will Cost

Plan prices are going up for 2027, and out-of-pocket limits are going up too. The most you can be asked to pay in a year for covered in-network care is now $12,000 for one person and $24,000 for a family. Some bronze plans are allowed to set a higher limit, up to $15,600 for an individual—so check the maximum on any plan you’re considering and don’t assume it’s the standard one.

Bronze plans can now be paired with a health savings account. For 2027, you can put in up to $4,500 as an individual or $9,000 for a family, plus an extra $1,000 if you’re 55 or older. The money goes in tax-free, grows tax-free, and comes out tax-free for eligible medical expenses.

Check Your Application, Even if You’re Auto-Renewing

If you like your current plan and don’t have any changes, you should still log in to your marketplace account and make sure everything is set for next year. Some plans renew on their own, and some don’t, and there’s no guarantee yours will—especially if you had a low-income plan.

Even if your plan does renew automatically, the price can change, and a different plan may suit your situation better. So it’s a good idea to log in to your account and check that you’re still enrolled, and update your income before the year ends.

Make an Appointment

Updating your profile and finding the right plan can take hours or even days, and that’s not counting the stress and second-guessing that this process often entails. An appointment with a broker can help you get this done in under an hour. Even if you’ve conducted all the research on your own and you’d just like to confirm that you’ve done everything correctly, it’s still worth sitting down with us for the peace of mind. Things are more complicated this year, and we’re here to help you navigate these changes.

More than anything, we want you to be able to go to bed knowing you made a good decision, without waking up at 2 a.m. wondering if you got it right. Some tasks are just easier with a professional, and in this case the professional is free.

There’s a lot more going on this year than we could fit in one post, and we haven’t covered every change. We keep up with it so you don’t have to.
Navigating the complex world of health insurance can be daunting. The Ark Insurance Solutions team has the skill and experience to guide you. We’ll help you compare health plans to make the best decision based on your unique circumstances and budget. Give us a call at 801-901-7800 or click here to schedule an appointment with us.