Are You Ready for Open Enrollment?

It’s hard to believe, but the 2027 Open Enrollment Period is already here. For brokers who sell individual health insurance, that means getting ready to help current clients review their coverage and new clients find a plan.

The good news is that we still have an extra month to help people get signed up. CMS has confirmed that open enrollment on HealthCare.gov will run from November 1, 2026, through January 15, 2027. That’s the same two and a half months we’ve had for the past few years. State-run marketplaces may have different schedules.

What Happened to the Shorter Enrollment Period?

You may remember that the Trump Administration’s 2025 Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Final Rule shortened the federal enrollment window for 2027 coverage to approximately six weeks, ending December 15.

That changed following a June 12, 2026, federal court decision in City of Columbus v. Kennedy. The court ruled against the shortened enrollment period, finding that the government had not adequately explained or supported its justification for the change. CMS subsequently confirmed the November 1 through January 15 schedule for this coming enrollment season.

For agents, that means an additional month to help clients compared with the shortened schedule. But it shouldn’t change our goal of getting people enrolled early.

December 15 Still Matters

January 15 is the final deadline on HealthCare.gov, but clients must enroll by December 15 for a January 1 effective date. Those who enroll from December 16 through January 15 generally have a February 1 effective date. Clients also need to pay their first premium by the insurer’s deadline to activate coverage.

Make sure your reminders explain both dates. Someone who needs coverage on January 1 shouldn’t hear “January 15 deadline” and assume there’s no reason to act before the holidays.

More Time Doesn’t Mean Time to Procrastinate

We’ve all worked with clients who intend to enroll but keep putting it off. Then the deadline arrives, and they can’t find their login information, haven’t gathered what they need, or still have questions about which plan to choose.

Starting early gives you time to work through those issues and compare networks, prescriptions, and total costs.

Missing the final deadline can mean waiting until the next annual open enrollment for another opportunity to purchase ACA individual coverage, unless the client qualifies for a Special Enrollment Period. For someone without coverage, that could mean spending most or all of the year uninsured.

Start scheduling reviews now. Ask clients to gather their provider lists, medications, and expected household income for 2027. Plan your reminders before your calendar fills up.

Best of luck during this year’s Open Enrollment Period. Please let us know how we can help.