Health Insurance Open Enrollment Runs Through Jan. 15: The Dec. 15 Deadline and What Changed for 2027

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Open enrollment for 2027 health insurance coverage began Sunday, Nov. 1, and continues through Jan. 15, 2027, in most states, according to the Associated Press in a report published by News4Jax. Consumers who want coverage beginning Jan. 1 must enroll or change plans by Dec. 15, 2026, and pay their first premium, according to HealthCare.gov. The enrollment period comes as a KFF analysis of federal data projects average marketplace premiums will rise 13% in 2027, while changes to premium tax credits and other financial assistance affect eligibility for some consumers.

HealthCare.gov identifies two deadlines that determine when coverage can begin for people selecting plans during open enrollment. The first is Dec. 15 for coverage starting Jan. 1, while the final open enrollment deadline is Jan. 15 for coverage starting Feb. 1. The Associated Press also reported changes involving enhanced subsidies, eligibility restrictions and federal enrollment figures as the new coverage year approaches.

When Does Open Enrollment End for 2027 Coverage?

The annual open enrollment period began Nov. 1, 2026, in most states, according to the Associated Press report carried by News4Jax. HealthCare.gov identifies Jan. 15, 2027, as the last day of open enrollment for the coverage year. Enrollment or plan changes after that date generally require eligibility for a Special Enrollment Period.

The earlier deadline is Dec. 15, 2026, for people seeking coverage that begins Jan. 1, 2027. According to HealthCare.gov, consumers who enroll by that deadline and pay their first premium can have coverage beginning on the first day of January. People who enroll between Dec. 16 and Jan. 15 and pay their first premium can have coverage beginning Feb. 1.

As of Thursday, Nov. 5, there are 40 days remaining until the Dec. 15 deadline. The period between Dec. 15 and Jan. 15 spans 31 days, although enrollment during the later part of that period results in a different coverage start date. The difference between those deadlines is central to HealthCare.gov's official schedule for the 2027 enrollment season.

HealthCare.gov also distinguishes marketplace open enrollment from Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP. Applications for Medicaid and CHIP can be submitted at any time of year, according to the federal website. Those programs are not limited to the marketplace's Nov. 1 through Jan. 15 enrollment period.

The Five Main Dates for 2027 Health Insurance

HealthCare.gov's official enrollment calendar provides the dates for selecting or changing plans and when coverage begins. The schedule separates the final opportunity for January coverage from the last day of the entire open enrollment period. It also specifies that the first premium must be paid for coverage to begin on the applicable date.

The official calendar establishes different effective dates depending on when an enrollment is completed. HealthCare.gov says the Dec. 15 deadline applies to coverage beginning Jan. 1. Enrollment during the later window allows coverage to begin Feb. 1 when the first premium is paid.

After Jan. 15, HealthCare.gov states that consumers generally need a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in or change marketplace coverage. That requirement marks the end of the regular open enrollment period for 2027. Medicaid and CHIP applications remain available throughout the year under the separate rules identified by HealthCare.gov.

Why Marketplace Premiums Are Expected to Rise 13%

Average marketplace premiums are expected to increase 13% in 2027, according to a KFF analysis of data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported by the Associated Press. The figure is an average across the marketplace data analyzed by KFF. It is not a Florida-specific premium increase or a quotation for an individual insurance plan.

Cynthia Cox of KFF attributed the projected increase primarily to rising health care costs and hospital market concentration, according to the Associated Press report published by News4Jax. The report also identified the No Surprises Act and GLP-1 drugs as other possible contributing factors. Cox's comments were reported by the Associated Press as part of its coverage of the premium outlook.

The 13% projection describes expected average marketplace premium changes for 2027. It does not establish that every consumer or every available plan will have an identical increase. The Associated Press reported the figure as a KFF analysis of federal marketplace data rather than as a local Jacksonville or Northeast Florida premium measurement.

The projected premium increase comes during the enrollment period that began Nov. 1. Consumers comparing coverage for 2027 are doing so under the dates published by HealthCare.gov and the premium outlook reported by KFF. The enrollment calendar and the premium projection describe separate aspects of the new coverage year.

What Changed With Premium Tax Credits and Subsidies?

Financial assistance for marketplace health insurance is changing for 2027, according to the Associated Press report carried by News4Jax. The report said premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions are restricted for many groups that were previously eligible. These changes affect eligibility for financial assistance rather than the official open enrollment deadlines.

The Associated Press also reported that enhanced subsidies introduced during the COVID-19 period have expired. According to the report, the expiration contributed to 1.2 million fewer health insurance sign-ups. That figure was presented in the national enrollment discussion, not as a count of people in Jacksonville or Florida.

The reported changes include restrictions on premium tax credits for certain lawfully present immigrants beginning in 2027. The Associated Press said those restrictions could leave up to 1 million additional people uninsured over time. That figure is a potential national impact described in the report, rather than a confirmed count of people who have already lost coverage.

The report distinguishes several types of financial assistance and enrollment changes. Premium tax credits, cost-sharing reductions and enhanced subsidies are discussed in connection with the changing eligibility and enrollment environment. The underlying HealthCare.gov calendar continues to list Dec. 15 and Jan. 15 as the key deadlines for marketplace plan enrollment.

What the National Enrollment Numbers Show

About 19.2 million people were actively enrolled in marketplace coverage as of February, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services figures reported by the Associated Press. The figure provides a national enrollment measure discussed as the 2027 open enrollment period began. It is separate from the projected changes in premiums and financial assistance for the coming coverage year.

The Associated Press also reported that the administration announced plans in September to remove 760,000 enrollees. According to the report, the administration alleged that the affected enrollments involved fraud or people who did not exist. The administration projected $2.2 billion in savings from the planned removals, the report said.

Those figures describe different elements of the federal marketplace enrollment picture. The 19.2 million figure concerns active enrollment as of February, while the 760,000 figure concerns planned removals announced in September. The $2.2 billion amount is the administration's projected savings, as reported by the Associated Press.

The Associated Press also connected the expiration of enhanced subsidies with a decline of 1.2 million sign-ups. That enrollment figure was presented separately from the announced removals. The figures should not be treated as identical categories of enrollment change because the report describes different circumstances behind them.

How Coverage Start Dates Depend on Enrollment Timing

The date a consumer enrolls determines the potential start date under HealthCare.gov's published schedule. Enrollment completed by Dec. 15, followed by payment of the first premium, can result in coverage starting Jan. 1. Enrollment completed from Dec. 16 through Jan. 15, with the first premium paid, can result in coverage beginning Feb. 1.

That distinction creates two enrollment windows within the same open enrollment period. Both fall before the final Jan. 15 deadline, but they lead to different coverage start dates. HealthCare.gov identifies the deadlines and the first-premium requirement in its official dates and deadlines guide.

The final Jan. 15 date does not serve as the deadline for January coverage. The federal website specifically sets Dec. 15 as the last day to enroll or change plans for a Jan. 1 start. The later deadline closes the enrollment period for coverage beginning Feb. 1.

HealthCare.gov provides plan shopping and comparison through its federal marketplace website. Its official dates and deadlines page explains the enrollment schedule for 2027. The same guide also states that Medicaid and CHIP applications can be submitted at any time.

What the 2027 Enrollment Changes Mean for the Calendar

The 2027 enrollment season combines the published HealthCare.gov deadlines with the premium and subsidy changes described by the Associated Press and KFF. The federal calendar establishes when consumers can enroll and when coverage can begin. The reported financial changes concern projected premiums, assistance eligibility and national marketplace enrollment.

As of Nov. 5, the Dec. 15 deadline for Jan. 1 coverage is 40 days away. HealthCare.gov identifies Jan. 15, 2027, as the final day of regular open enrollment, with Feb. 1 coverage available for qualifying enrollments completed during the later window. Both start dates require payment of the first premium under the published federal schedule.

The Associated Press report published by News4Jax on Nov. 1 describes the projected 13% average marketplace premium increase, the expiration of enhanced subsidies and restrictions affecting some groups previously eligible for assistance. HealthCare.gov separately provides the official deadlines for the coverage year. Regular marketplace open enrollment ends Jan. 15, while Medicaid and CHIP applications remain available year-round.