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ACA Premiums Rise 13% for 2027 as Enrollment Opens Today — 5 Moves Before You Pick a Plan

Open enrollment for 2027 health coverage opens today, Sunday, November 1, 2026 — and it opens with a jolt. Benchmark Silver plan premiums will cost 13% more on average in 2027, according to a KFF analysis published Friday, October 30, based on newly released federal plan data. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its own Plan Year 2027 fact sheet the same day; it did not give an average premium change.

This is the second year of marketplace coverage without the enhanced federal premium help that expired at the end of 2025. That matters more than the headline number, because the help that used to soften premium increases is gone — and the prices you see on HealthCare.gov now reflect that.

Here is what the 13% figure actually means, and the five moves to make before you pick a plan.

What the 13% rise really is

The benchmark Silver plan is the second-lowest-cost Silver plan in your area, and federal subsidies are pegged to it. When KFF says benchmark premiums rise 13% on average, it means that reference price — not your personal premium. Your own price depends on where you live, your age, your income, and the plan you pick.

Some states are above the average. Michigan, for example, approved an average 14.2% increase for individual-market coverage in 2027 (and 9.6% for small businesses), according to the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Your state may be higher or lower — check your own marketplace, not the national average.

There is also a warning in last year's numbers. Plan selections fell by 1.2 million during the 2026 open enrollment period, and paid-up marketplace enrollment was down 12%, or 2.6 million people, to 19.2 million by February 2026, according to KFF. When prices rise and help shrinks, some people walk away — and going uninsured is the most expensive move of all.

The dates that decide everything

On HealthCare.gov, open enrollment runs November 1, 2026, through January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15 for coverage starting January 1, 2027. Enroll December 16 through January 15 and your coverage starts February 1 instead.

One date confusion is now settled: a 2025 federal rule would have ended HealthCare.gov enrollment on December 15, 2026. A federal court vacated that rule in June 2026, and CMS confirms the window runs through January 15, 2027.

If your state runs its own exchange, your dates may differ. Washington's window runs November 1 to January 15, but its deadline for January 1 coverage is December 31. Massachusetts and Connecticut opened their windows early, on October 23. Oregon residents enroll through ExploreHealthOR.gov starting November 1 instead of HealthCare.gov. Check your state's marketplace before you count on the federal dates.

5 moves before you pick a plan

1. Do not auto-renew blind. Your plan's price, network, and drug coverage changed for 2027 — and so did the benchmark it is measured against. Log in, compare, and confirm your plan still fits before it renews on its own.

2. Compare total yearly cost, not the monthly premium. Multiply the monthly premium by 12, add the deductible, and add your expected copays. A cheap premium with a high deductible and expensive copays can cost more over the year than a higher premium with lower cost-sharing. This is the single most common enrollment mistake.

3. Verify your doctors and prescriptions for 2027. Networks shrink quietly. Check each doctor in the plan's 2027 provider directory, and check each prescription in the drug formulary, including its tier. A plan that drops your doctor or moves your drug to a higher tier is not a bargain at any premium.

4. Do the income math near the 400% cliff. With the enhanced subsidies gone, the old 400% of the federal poverty level cliff is back in full force. Near that line, one small raise or bonus can wipe out your premium tax credit. Estimate your 2027 income carefully — including freelance, gig, investment, and Social Security income — before you enroll.

5. Enroll by December 15 — and pay the first premium. December 15 is the real deadline: it decides whether your coverage starts January 1 or a full month later. And your plan only takes effect once you pay the first premium. Enrolling without paying is the same as not enrolling.

What to do today

Today is day one. The smartest first step takes ten minutes: log in to HealthCare.gov (or your state exchange), confirm your household and income information, and preview 2027 plans and prices before the December rush. Free help is available at 1-800-318-2596 and through HealthCare.gov's Find Local Help tool.

Premiums rose 13% on the benchmark — but your bill is not decided by the average. It is decided by the plan you pick, the doctors you keep, and the deadline you meet.

Also see: our full 7-move ACA guide, how to check whether your doctor is covered in 2027, what happens if you miss the December 15 deadline, and the 9 health insurance terms every enrollee should know.

This article is for general information only and is not financial, tax, or insurance advice. Premiums, subsidies, and dates can change — confirm deadlines and prices with HealthCare.gov, your state marketplace, or your plan before acting. Sources: KFF analysis, October 30, 2026; CMS Plan Year 2027 Marketplace Plans and Prices Fact Sheet, October 30, 2026.

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