Obamacare 2027 Enrollment Deadlines: Pick a Plan by December 15 for January 1, Federal Enrollment Runs to January 15

Open enrollment for 2027 Obamacare coverage began November 1, 2026. In HealthCare.gov states, including North Carolina, pick a plan by December 15, 2026 for coverage starting January 1, 2027. Open enrollment itself runs through January 15, 2027, and plans chosen December 16 to January 15 usually start February 1. State exchanges in California, New York and New Jersey run through January 31, 2027.

Why so many people say the deadline is December 15

In June 2025, CMS issued its Marketplace Integrity and Affordability rule. Starting with 2027 coverage, it would have shortened federal open enrollment to November 1 through December 15, with state exchanges capped at nine weeks and ending by December 31. Plenty of articles and ads picked up that December 15 end date.

A group of cities, doctors and small businesses then sued in federal district court in Maryland in City of Columbus v. Kennedy. The court stayed seven provisions on August 22, 2025, and on June 12, 2026 vacated nine, including the shorter enrollment window. The government has appealed to the Fourth Circuit. CMS's October 30, 2026 fact sheet for plan year 2027 confirms that HealthCare.gov open enrollment runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027.

So December 15 is the deadline for January 1 coverage, not the last day to enroll. The appeal could change windows in later years; watch for CMS announcements.

Dates by exchange

HealthCare.gov (North Carolina and most states): November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027; choose by December 15 for January 1 coverage.

Covered California: November 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027; choose by December 31 for January 1 coverage, while January sign-ups start February 1.

NY State of Health: November 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027; the state health department encourages enrolling by December 15 for January 1 coverage.

Get Covered New Jersey: November 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027; choose by December 31 for January 1 coverage.

Check your own state exchange for other dates. On any exchange, coverage starts only after you pay the first month's premium as the insurer requires.

Auto re-enrollment doesn't mean you're done

If you had a Marketplace plan this year and do nothing, the exchange will generally re-enroll you in the same or a similar plan. But auto re-enrollment carries over last year's income, household and status information, and at least three things this year can make that costly.

Premiums are rising. KFF reports that average benchmark silver premiums rise 13% for 2027 (11% in HealthCare.gov states). The same plan may cost much more, or your insurer may have left your state.

The status limit on the subsidy. From 2027 the premium tax credit is limited to citizens, green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants and COFA migrants. H-1B, H-4, F-1 and pending green card households may find their re-enrolled plan billed at full price.

Income changes. The enhanced subsidies expired at the end of 2025, so there's no credit above 400% of the poverty line, which is $109,280 for a family of three for 2027 coverage. From tax year 2026, excess advance credit is repaid in full at tax time, so update your income when you re-enroll.

If you miss open enrollment

After January 15 (January 31 on those state exchanges), you generally wait for the next open enrollment unless you have a qualifying life event: losing job-based or other coverage, marriage, a birth or adoption, moving to a new coverage area, moving to the U.S. from abroad, or gaining citizenship or lawful presence. These usually give you 60 days to enroll.

If your income is low, you can apply for Medicaid any time. North Carolina expanded Medicaid on December 1, 2023 for adults 19 to 64 with income up to about 138% of the poverty line. Income-based special enrollment periods no longer carry a premium tax credit starting in 2026, even where you can still use them to enroll.

After you pick a plan

Pay the first premium. Choosing a plan isn't the finish line. Coverage starts only after you pay the first month's premium by the insurer's due date, and a plan picked on December 15 with no payment won't start on January 1.

Answer document requests. If the exchange can't match your income or immigration information with government records, it opens a data matching issue and asks you to upload documents by a deadline. Missing it can end your advance credit or your coverage.

Keep your own records. Save a copy of your application, your eligibility notice and the income you entered. At tax time, when you reconcile on Form 8962, it helps to see what you estimated and why.

Documents to gather now

Each household member's date of birth and SSN (not needed for members who aren't applying); immigration documents and their numbers (green card, I-94, work permit, I-20, DS-2019 and so on); recent pay stubs, W-2s, 1099s, last year's tax return, and a profit and loss statement if you're self-employed; employer coverage details, which HR can supply on HealthCare.gov's Employer Coverage Tool; and the policy numbers and end dates of any current coverage.

More in the guide

How the credit is calculated, what income to enter, and how to reconcile on Form 8962 at tax time are covered in our Obamacare 2027 guide. Open enrollment started on the 1st of this month. If you'd like help or want to enroll, book a free 15-minute call or message us on WeChat at YCLUSA. We help you gather the documents and go through the application together; which plan to choose is your decision.