Smart Money Guide

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 ri...

Open enrollment for 2027 runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. If you enroll by December 15, your coverage starts January 1. Enroll between December 16 and January 15, and your coverage starts February 1. But before you compare plans, you need to understand the words on the plan page. Here are the 9 terms that decide what you actually pay, explained in plain English. 1. Premium The premium is the amount you pay every month just to keep the plan, whether you use it or not. Think of it like a subscription fee. A low premium looks attractive, but it often comes with a high deductible (see below), so the cheapest monthly price is not always the cheapest plan overall. 2. Deductible The deductible is the amount you pay out of your own pocket for covered care before your plan starts paying its share. For example, with a $2,000 deductible, you pay the first $2,000 of covered medical bills yourself. After that, the plan's cost-sharing kicks in. Preventive care, like annual checkup...

If December 15 came and went and you did not enroll in a health plan, do not panic — and do not assume you have lost your chance for 2027 coverage. December 15 is an important deadline, but it is not the end of Open Enrollment. Here is exactly what changes, what stays open, and what to do this week. What the Dec 15 deadline actually means ACA Open Enrollment for 2027 runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. December 15, 2026 was the deadline to enroll for coverage starting January 1, 2027. Miss it, and your coverage simply starts later — it does not disappear. Your Jan 15 backup: coverage from Feb 1 If you enroll between December 16, 2026 and January 15, 2027, your coverage starts February 1, 2027. That one-month gap is the real cost of missing December 15, so plan for it: keep any current coverage going if you can, avoid letting prescriptions lapse, and do not skip needed care in January without a plan to pay for it. Step 1: Enroll before Jan 15 — do not wait for a reminder The...