Obamacare Sign-Up Opens November 1: Higher Premiums, a Fraud Crackdown and Cheaper Medicare Advantage. Your 2027 Health Coverage Guide
Open enrollment for 2027 HealthCare.gov plans runs from November 1 to January 15, while Medicare's window closes December 7. Benchmark ACA premiums are rising 13% on average, according to KFF, and new anti-fraud checks will slow some sign-ups. CMS says Medicare Advantage premiums are projected to fall. Here is what has changed and what to do.
By Clara Hughes
The health insurance calendar's busiest season is here. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage on HealthCare.gov starts November 1, 2026, and runs through January 15, 2027, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said in an October 30 fact sheet. Medicare's own open enrollment, which began October 15, ends December 7. Families buying their own coverage will find a market that has changed a lot in a year. The enhanced premium subsidies first enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic expired at the end of 2025. Premiums are rising again. And the Trump administration is enforcing a sweeping crackdown on fraudulent sign-ups by rogue brokers. The administration's message is that coverage remains within reach. More than 75% of HealthCare.gov shoppers will still be able to find a plan for $50 a month or less in 2027, CMS said. For the millions eligible for tax credits, the federal government will pay nearly 90% of the lowest-cost premium, compared with 85% in 2020, according to CMS. Independent analysts warn that costs are still climbing. Here is a clear-eyed look at both sides, and a checklist for your family. Keep reading with Altas Premium. Below: what ACA premiums will cost in 2027, who is losing subsidies, how the fraud crackdown affects you, the new ID checks for broker sign-ups, insurer exits including Cigna, the Medicare outlook