By — Fatima Hussein, Associated Press Fatima Hussein, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/what-to-know-about-the-affordable-care-acts-open-enrollment-period Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter What to know about the Affordable Care Act's open enrollment period Health Nov 2, 2026 1:53 PM EST WASHINGTON (AP) — People heading into the Affordable Care Act open enrollment period with plans to sign up for insurance should expect a variety of changes in 2027, including higher premiums and fewer coverage options. The sign-up window for the marketplace, also known as Obamacare, starts Sunday in most states and runs through Jan. 15. Big changes to the exchange include expiring financial assistance, rising rates, potential delays in working with a broker, new restrictions on immigrants, and stricter enrollment checks. Financial help, including premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions, is now restricted for many groups of people who were previously eligible. Across the board, healthcare experts predict less coverage and higher prices, with the average price of health insurance purchased through the marketplaces expected to rise by 13% in 2027, according to…
What to know about the Affordable Care Act's open enrollment period
In short
Average marketplace insurance prices are projected to rise by 13% for 2027, driven by factors such as hospital consolidation and the popularity of GLP-1 medications. While roughly 19.2 million people held active coverage as of February, sign-ups are expected to contract under stricter oversight and reduced financial aid. The ending of expanded subsidies will disproportionately burden consumers who must pay full price for coverage without government assistance. In addition, new immigration restrictions and an aggressive federal anti-fraud initiative aim to remove hundreds of thousands of current participants from the exchanges.
Key points
- Consumers without subsidies will shoulder the greatest financial burden from the projecte…: Consumers without subsidies will shoulder the greatest financial burden from the projected 13% surge in premium costs.
- Tighter eligibility guidelines and federal enforcement measures are positioned to signifi…: Tighter eligibility guidelines and federal enforcement measures are positioned to significantly diminish total exchange enrollment.
- Open enrollment begins Sunday across most states and continues through January 15 under t…: Open enrollment begins Sunday across most states and continues through January 15 under tighter rules and broker processing delays.