Enrollment
ACA Open Enrollment 2027: dates and deadlines for agents
By the QuoteDeck team · Updated · 3 min read
The short answer
On HealthCare.gov, Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Clients who enroll by December 15, 2026 get coverage starting January 1, 2027. Clients who enroll from December 16 to January 15 get coverage starting February 1, 2027, as long as the first premium is paid. State-based exchanges can set different dates.
Key dates for 2027 coverage
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| November 1, 2026 | Open Enrollment starts. Clients can apply for 2027 coverage or update their application. |
| December 15, 2026 | Last day to enroll in or change plans for coverage that starts January 1, 2027. |
| December 16, 2026 to January 15, 2027 | Enrollments and changes get coverage starting February 1, 2027, if the first premium is paid. |
| January 15, 2027 | Open Enrollment ends. After this, clients need a qualifying life event for a Special Enrollment Period. |
A 2025 federal rule would have ended Open Enrollment on HealthCare.gov on December 15 starting with 2027 coverage. HealthCare.gov now lists January 15, 2027 as the end of this Open Enrollment, so use January 15 as the final deadline and December 15 as the deadline for January 1 coverage.
Agent checklist before November 1
- Complete your plan year 2027 Marketplace registration and training if you sell on the federal platform. You cannot assist with federal Marketplace enrollments for 2027 without it.
- Confirm your carrier appointments and contracting for 2027 in every state you sell.
- Set up how you document client consent before working on a Marketplace application, as CMS requires for agents and brokers on the federal platform.
- Line up your enrollment platform (HealthSherpa, another EDE platform or HealthCare.gov) and make sure your credentials work.
- Send renewal outreach to existing clients early. Plans, networks and prices change every year, and auto-renewal can leave a client in a plan that no longer fits.
- Prepare how you will present options. A clear side-by-side of two or three plans, with dental and vision alongside, closes faster than a list of every plan in the county.
A faster Open Enrollment workflow
Open Enrollment rewards agents who can turn a conversation into a clear recommendation the same day. A workflow that holds up at volume:
- Collect household, income, doctors and prescriptions before the call with a quote request form, so the appointment starts with real options instead of questions.
- Quote Marketplace plans, then add dental, vision and supplemental coverage where it fits the household.
- Present two or three packages side by side, with premiums after subsidy, deductibles and whether their doctors and drugs are covered.
- Submit the application in your enrollment platform.
- Follow up on anyone who has not decided before December 15, while January 1 coverage is still possible.
QuoteDeck covers steps 1 to 3 and 5: branded quote request forms, live ACA rates with provider and drug checks, packages that combine Marketplace plans with dental, vision, life and supplemental coverage, and automated follow-ups. You submit the Marketplace application in your EDE platform.
Frequently asked questions
When is Open Enrollment for 2027 health insurance?
On HealthCare.gov, November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. State-based exchanges can use different dates.
What is the deadline for coverage starting January 1, 2027?
December 15, 2026. Enrollments from December 16 to January 15 start February 1, 2027, if the first premium is paid.
Did Open Enrollment get shortened to December 15?
A 2025 federal rule would have ended HealthCare.gov Open Enrollment on December 15 starting with 2027 coverage, but HealthCare.gov lists January 15, 2027 as the end of this Open Enrollment. December 15 remains the deadline for January 1 coverage.
Can a client enroll after January 15, 2027?
Only with a Special Enrollment Period, which generally requires a qualifying life event such as losing other coverage, moving, marriage or having a baby.
Sources
Checked on October 3, 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the source and your carriers.
This guide is general information for licensed insurance professionals, not legal or compliance advice. Follow CMS, state and carrier requirements that apply to you.
Quote and present ACA plans faster this Open Enrollment
Collect client details before the call, quote Marketplace plans with dental, vision and supplemental coverage, and send one clean presentation.