Obamacare 2027: Enrollment dates, end of expanded coverage, and who qualifies

Open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace for 2027 coverage runs from November 1, 2026, to January 15, 2027, at HealthCare.gov, according to the official calendar. To have insurance from January 1st, you must choose a plan no later than December 15th; if you choose it later, coverage starts on February 1st.

The Marketplace was created under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as Obamacare, and is administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). On June 12, 2026, a federal district court in Maryland struck down parts of a 2025 rule that, starting with 2027 coverage, would have closed enrollment on the federal site on December 15. statement of July 27, 2026, CMS confirmed that it did not change the dates: on the federal site, registration opens on November 1, 2026 and closes on January 15, 2027.

States that have their own market can set other dates. Covered California, For example, it accepts applications from November 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027.

What changed with the end of expanded subsidies?

From 2021 to 2025, the tax credit that helps pay the monthly premium was more generous and also reached households with incomes above 400% of the federal poverty level. That expanded assistance expired at the end of 2025, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The extension approved by the House of Representatives on January 8, 2026, remains in effect. pending in the Senate.

The original rule applies until 2027. According to HealthCare.govYou may qualify for the credit if your annual income is between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level. For reference, with the 2026 poverty guidelines According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 400% is equivalent to $63,840 dollars per year for one person and $132,000 for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states and Washington DC. HealthCare.gov The income levels applicable to 2027 will be published on November 1.

According to a KFF analysis published on May 19, 2026, from 2025 to 2026 the average monthly premium paid by enrollees after the aid increased by 58%, from $113 to $178, and the average deductible increased by 37%, from $2,759 to $3,786.

Who qualifies based on their immigration status?

Being able to buy a plan is not the same as receiving help to pay for it:

• U.S. citizens and nationals: They can purchase a plan and receive assistance if they meet the income requirements.
• With assistance from January 1, 2027: Due to a change in the law, only permanent residents with green card (permanent residence card), Cuban or Haitian entrants and migrants from the Pact of Free Association (COFA) may receive savings, according to the List of immigration statuses of the Market.
• Plan without help: other immigrants with legal presence, such as people with asylum or refugee status, with parole (Temporary Stay Permit), with Temporary Protected Status (TPS), with certain work permits or with non-immigrant visas, can continue to purchase a plan, but without savings.
• DACA: HealthCare.gov states that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients are not eligible for Marketplace coverage.
• Undocumented immigrants: They cannot buy at the Market, However, they can request coverage for family members with documents, such as citizen children.

In mixed-status families, those who do not request insurance are not asked about their immigration status, and the Marketplace cannot demand that information, according to the website. HealthCare.gov for immigrant households.

What does it mean to you?

• If you use HealthCare.gov and want insurance starting January 1, you have until December 15 to choose a plan. If your state has its own marketplace, check its dates.
• If you have green card, You can continue to receive assistance in 2027 if your income is within the qualifying range and you meet the other requirements.
• If you have TPS, asylum, refugee status, parole or another status with legal presence, check your quote: in 2027 you could pay the full premium.
• If your income exceeds 400% of the federal poverty level, you do not receive a tax credit.

What can you do?

1. Enter HealthCare.gov Starting November 1, update your application with your current immigration status and compare plans before choosing.
2. Calculate the income you expect to have in 2027, not last year's: the aid is based on that estimate.
3. Search in the local help page of HealthCare.gov to a Marketplace-certified assistant or browser: They help free of charge. Agents and brokers may receive commissions from insurance companies.
4. Call Market Call Center to 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except holidays.
5. If you received advance assistance, file your federal tax return and reconcile the credit. CMS indicated that in 2026 and 2027 it will not remove the assistance for failure to reconcile previous years, but the law still requires it. Starting with tax year 2026, there is no longer a cap: if you received more assistance than you were entitled to, you must repay the entire difference, according to the [unclear - possibly "the tax authorities"]. IRS.

Warning: This information is general and does not replace personalized advice. Your eligibility depends on your immigration status, income, and household: confirm this with the Marketplace or a certified immigration consultant. If you have questions about how an application may affect your immigration case, consult a licensed immigration attorney or a representative accredited by the Department of Justice.

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