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 opens November 1, 2026, and runs through January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15 for coverage starting January 1; enroll December 16 to January 15 and your coverage starts February 1. Before you pick a plan, answer one question first: is your doctor covered? A plan that looks cheap on premium can turn expensive fast if your doctor is out-of-network. Out-of-network care usually costs far more — and sometimes is not covered at all. Here is how to check in minutes. Step 1: Find your plan's provider directory. Every insurer has an online provider directory on its website or app. Search by your doctor's name, specialty, and location. Make sure you are looking at the 2027 directory for the exact plan you are considering — not last year's plan, and not a different plan with a similar name. Step 2: Call your doctor's office. Directories can be out of date. Call the office and ask one clear question: "Are you in-network for [plan name] in 2027?...

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...

Open enrollment forces one big choice: a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) with low monthly premiums, or a PPO with higher premiums but lower costs when you actually see a doctor. Pick wrong and you can lose thousands over the year — not because one plan is "bad," but because it doesn't fit how you use health care. Here's the honest comparison, with real 2027 numbers, so you can decide on math instead of guesswork. The Two Plans in 30 Seconds HDHP: Low monthly premium. High deductible — you pay most costs yourself until you hit it. Often paired with a Health Savings Account (HSA) , which is the best tax break in the entire tax code. PPO: Higher monthly premium. Lower deductible, fixed copays for doctor visits and prescriptions, and the freedom to see specialists without a referral. No HSA. The trade is simple: HDHP charges you less every month but more when you're sick. PPO charges you more every month but less when you're sick. The 2027 Numbers That Matter ...

If you have a high-deductible health plan, the IRS just handed you a bigger tax break for 2027. The new HSA contribution limits are official — and for the first time ever, a family can shelter $9,000 a year from taxes. If you're 55 or older with family coverage, that number climbs to $10,000 . Open enrollment is happening right now, which means this is the exact moment to act. Here's everything that changed, who qualifies, and the moves to make before enrollment closes. The 2027 HSA Numbers (Official IRS Figures) The IRS announced the 2027 limits in Revenue Procedure 2026-24. Here's how they compare to 2026: 2026 2027 HSA limit — self-only coverage $4,400 $4,500 HSA limit — family coverage $8,750 $9,000 Catch-up contribution (age 55+) $1,000 $1,000 (unchanged) HDHP minimum deductible — self-only $1,700 $1,750 HDHP minimum deductible — family $3,400 $3,500 HDHP out-of-pocket max — self-only $8,500 $8,700 HDHP out-of-pocket max — family $17,000 $17,400 Two thin...

🎬 Watch the short version In 12 days, the health insurance marketplace opens for 2027 — and this year is genuinely different. The extra subsidies from the pandemic years are gone. A hard income cliff is back. The government just tightened the rules on insurance brokers after a wave of unauthorized plan switches. And the single most misunderstood deadline — December 15 — decides whether your coverage starts January 1 or a full month later. Whether you're buying your first marketplace plan or auto-renewing your fifth, what you do in the next few weeks decides what you pay for all of next year. Here's everything that matters, and the 7 smart moves to make before November 1. The Exact Dates (Save These) For 2027 coverage on HealthCare.gov (the federal marketplace): November 1, 2026 — Open enrollment begins. First day to enroll in, renew, or change a plan for 2027. December 15, 2026 — Last day to enroll for coverage starting January 1, 2027 . January 15, 2027 — Open enro...

  Open enrollment is the one time each year you get to choose your health insurance — and for most people, it's also the one time each year they quietly lose thousands of dollars without realizing it. Every fall, millions of Americans auto-renew their health plan, glance at the premium, and move on. Then January arrives with a surprise: their doctor is out of network, their prescriptions cost triple, or their deductible jumped and nobody told them. Don't let that be you. Here are the 5 mistakes that cost people thousands during open enrollment — and exactly how to avoid each one. Know Your Dates First Before anything else, know which window applies to you: ACA Marketplace (federal): November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027 State exchanges: Same general window (check your state's site for exact dates) Medicare open enrollment: October 15 – December 7, 2026 Employer plans: Usually October–November (check with your HR department) The single most important date: enroll by...

  Medicare Open Enrollment is happening right now. From October 15 through December 7, 2026, you have one chance to change your Medicare coverage for 2027 — and this year, the stakes are higher than usual. Premiums jumped nearly 10%, prescription drug rules changed again, and Medicare negotiated lower prices on 10 major medications for the first time ever. Whether you love your current plan or not, doing nothing this fall is a gamble. Plans change their costs, drug lists, and networks every year. Here's everything you need to know — and exactly what to do before December 7. What Is Medicare Open Enrollment? Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7 every year. During this window you can: Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan (or back) Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another Join, drop, or switch a Part D prescription drug plan Add or change supplemental coverage options Any changes you make take effect ...