When does open enrollment for 2027 health plans start and end — and why do the dates keep changing?

The short answer

Open enrollment for 2027 plans starts November 1, 2026 in every state. On HealthCare.gov — the federal Marketplace used by most states — it currently runs through January 15, 2027. Enrolling by December 15, 2026 is what makes coverage start January 1, 2027; enrolling December 16 through January 15 moves the start to February 1. Several state-run marketplaces run longer. A federal appeal could still shorten the end of the window — but the November 1 start and the December-15-for-January-1 deadline hold in every scenario.

What is NOT happening

Three things worth clearing up:

• The December 15 national cutoff is not in force. A 2025 federal rule tried to end open enrollment on December 15; a federal court vacated that provision in June 2026. On HealthCare.gov the window currently runs to January 15, 2027.
• The dates dispute does not touch anyone's right to enroll. Whatever the courts decide about the end date, open enrollment happens, and November 1 is the start everywhere.
• Missing December 15 does not close enrollment. It moves the coverage start date to February 1 — which matters if the current plan ends December 31, because that leaves January without coverage.

Why the end date was in the news

• A 2025 federal rule shortened the HealthCare.gov window to November 1 – December 15 starting with 2027 plans.
• On June 12, 2026, a federal district court in City of Columbus v. Kennedy vacated that provision, among others. The window reverted to the pre-existing schedule: November 1 – January 15.
• The federal government appealed to the Fourth Circuit in July 2026. Briefing runs through fall 2026. If the appeal succeeds before or during open enrollment, the December 15 cutoff could return.
• A related July 16, 2026 court order paused several other 2027 Marketplace rules — but the enrollment-window question sits in the appeal, not in that order.

This is why different websites still show different end dates. Enrolling by December 15 is unaffected by any outcome of the appeal.

✓ HealthCare.gov, Marketplace dates and deadlines · 2026 — reviewed 2026-08-10

The window, state by state

State marketplaces set their own dates and can adjust them while the appeal is pending — the state marketplace's own site is the place where the final word appears.

✓ HealthCare.gov, Marketplace dates and deadlines · 2026 — reviewed 2026-08-10

The dates that matter

• November 1, 2026 — open enrollment starts everywhere. Not contested.
• December 15, 2026 — the deadline for coverage that starts January 1, 2027. This date holds regardless of how the litigation ends, and January 1 is when the 2027 subsidy rule changes take effect.
• January 15, 2027 — the current end of the HealthCare.gov window; enrollment in this tail starts coverage February 1. This is the date the appeal could change.
• State extensions — several state marketplaces run to late January; enrolling in the extension typically starts coverage even later.

✓ HealthCare.gov, Marketplace dates and deadlines · 2026 — reviewed 2026-08-10

What people typically look at

• Whether their state uses HealthCare.gov or runs its own marketplace — that decides which end date applies to them.
• What enrolling by December 15 versus later does to their coverage start date, especially if their current plan ends December 31.
• Whether the 2027 subsidy rule changes affect their household — for some immigration statuses this open enrollment works differently than the last one, which we cover on a separate page.

You can see how these options map to your own situation, without entering your name or immigration details: [Open the Health Coverage Map →]

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This page explains federal rules in plain language. It is education, not a recommendation, and not legal or immigration advice.