Open enrollment for 2027 ACA plans starts November 1 in most states (Idaho opened October 15). Here are the dates for the states I work in, plus the plans that don't have a season at all.
HealthCare.gov states
November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Sign up by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1.
Source: HealthCare.gov, dates and deadlines, checked October 22, 2026.
A federal appeals court is weighing a case, argued October 30, that could change the January 15 date. If the date changes, this page will be updated.
These states use HealthCare.gov: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
State-run exchanges
- Nevada (Nevada Health Link): November 1 to January 15. Sign up by December 31 for January 1 coverage.
- California (Covered California): November 1 to January 31. December 31 for January 1.
- Virginia: November 1 to January 29. December 31 for January 1.
- Colorado and Pennsylvania: November 1 to January 15. December 15 for January 1.
- Georgia (Georgia Access): November 1 to January 15. December 15 for January 1.
- Illinois (Get Covered Illinois): November 1 to January 15. December 15 for January 1.
- Kentucky and New Mexico: November 1 to January 15. Check kynect or beWellnm for the date that gets you covered January 1.
- Idaho: already open since October 15, and it closes December 15.
For why December 15 still decides your January, see when open enrollment ends for 2027.
What's different for 2027
The extra federal help that ran through 2025 is gone. The 400% of poverty cutoff is back: $63,840 for one person and $132,000 for a family of four. Over that line, there's no tax credit.
The monthly special enrollment period for people at or under 150% of poverty isn't available for 2027.
These dates apply to every ACA plan, on or off the exchange. Buying an ACA plan straight from an insurance company doesn't get around them.
The plans that don't have a season
Medically underwritten plans can be applied for any month of the year. They're priced on health, not income, and approval depends on your health history. They aren't ACA plans, and they may not cover pre-existing conditions.
For a healthy household over the income cutoff, they're worth a look before December. For someone with a condition an underwriter would turn down, the ACA plan and its season are the right road.
Book a time with me and I'll tell you straight which way I'd go for you.
Sources:
- HealthCare.gov
- Nevada Division of Insurance, Oct 1, 2026
- Covered California
- Virginia's Insurance Marketplace
- Your Health Idaho
- Connect for Health Colorado
- Pennie
- Georgia Access, kynect and beWellnm
- healthinsurance.org, Illinois marketplace guide, updated Aug 10, 2026
- HHS 2026 poverty guidelines, used for 2027 coverage
Mary Jones, licensed health insurance agent, NPN #20192176. Jones True Insurance Solutions. Not affiliated with HealthCare.gov, Nevada Health Link or any government agency. A licensed agent may contact you.
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