HealthCare.gov open enrollment 2027 opens Nov 1

Two dates, not one

HealthCare.gov opens Nov 1, 2026. The window runs through Jan 15, 2027. But there’s a second date buried in that range that matters more for most people: Dec 15, 2026. Enroll by then and coverage starts Jan 1. Enroll after — anytime up to Jan 15 — and coverage doesn’t start until Feb 1.

A six-week gap in coverage, created by a six-week delay in paperwork. That’s the trade.

Why this year is different

This marks the first open enrollment since the enhanced subsidies that had propped up premiums since 2021 expired. The federal window itself didn’t change — CMS confirmed these same Nov 1 to Jan 15 dates in July 2026, after a federal court ruling in Maryland left the standard calendar in place. What changed is what’s waiting on the other side of the application: higher sticker prices for anyone who previously qualified for the expanded credits.

The calendar is the easy part. The premium number you’ll see when you log in is the one that’s shifted.

State deadlines don’t match the federal one

If you live in a state running its own exchange, the Jan 15 federal deadline may not apply to you at all. Several states give residents extra time:

• Idaho closes earlier — Dec 15 is the final day, not just the deadline for Jan 1 coverage.
• Massachusetts runs through Jan 23.
• Virginia runs through Jan 29.
• California, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and D.C. all run through Jan 31.

If your state isn’t on that list, you’re on the federal HealthCare.gov calendar: Nov 1 to Jan 15, with the Dec 15 soft deadline for Jan 1 coverage.

What to actually do with these dates

Check which exchange serves your state before you assume the national dates apply. Idaho residents who wait until early January, thinking they have until mid-month, will find the door already closed. Massachusetts and Virginia residents who rush before Dec 15 aren’t wrong to do so, but they have more room than they might think.

Either way, the math is the same: enroll earlier, and the coverage gap shrinks. Enroll later, within whatever window your state allows, and you’re choosing fewer weeks of insurance now in exchange for more time to shop.

Questions people ask