Quick answer
Your current plan keeps covering you through December 31 as long as you pay your premiums. For the new year, you’ll need a plan from a different insurer. On HealthCare.gov, if you do nothing, you’ll usually be moved into a similar plan from another company, but you’ll almost always do better by choosing one yourself during open enrollment. Sign up by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1.
Key takeaways
- Cigna is leaving the Marketplace in all 11 of its states for 2027, and several other insurers are pulling out of some states.
- Nothing changes for the rest of 2026. Keep paying your premium and use your plan as usual.
- HealthCare.gov will usually re-enroll you in a plan from a different insurer if you don’t pick one, but it may not include your doctors or drugs.
- A discontinued plan also gives you a special enrollment period, which runs from 60 days before your plan ends to 60 days after.
- Your coverage with the new insurer doesn’t start until you pay the first premium to that company.
On this page
Which insurers are leaving for 2027?
More insurers are leaving the Marketplace for 2027 than joining it. KFF counts nine insurers exiting some or all of their states and six entering. The biggest exit is Cigna, which is leaving the individual market entirely, both on and off the Marketplace, in all 11 states where it sells.
| Insurer | Where it’s leaving for 2027 |
|---|---|
| Cigna | Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia |
| Molina | Illinois, Mississippi and other states (down from 14 states to 6) |
| UnitedHealthcare | Georgia |
| CareSource | Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia |
| Baylor Scott & White | Texas |
| PacificSource | Idaho, Montana and Oregon |
| Providence | Oregon and Washington |
| Medica | Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma |
| Ambetter (Celtic) | Delaware and New Hampshire |
Cigna covers about 369,000 Marketplace enrollees in those 11 states. If you live in Texas or Florida, see what else is changing in health insurance costs in Texas and health insurance costs in Florida. In Ohio, see how much health insurance costs in Ohio.
What happens to your coverage
For the rest of 2026, nothing changes. Your plan covers you through December 31 as long as you keep paying your premium. The insurer still pays claims for care you get in 2026, even after it leaves.
You’ll get a notice. Insurers have to warn you at least 90 days before they discontinue a plan, and at least 180 days before they leave a state’s individual market altogether. An insurer that leaves the whole market can’t come back for five years.
On HealthCare.gov, you’ll usually be moved to another insurer if you do nothing. If your insurer isn’t offering any plans for next year, HealthCare.gov will re-enroll you in a comparable plan from a different company. Some state-run Marketplaces don’t do this, so check your notice.
That backup plan is picked for you. It might not include your doctors, and the price and deductible can be quite different. Treat it as a safety net, not a choice.
Your deadlines
On HealthCare.gov, open enrollment for 2027 runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Pick a plan by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1. State-run Marketplaces set their own dates; see when open enrollment is.
Because your plan is being discontinued, you also qualify for a special enrollment period. It starts 60 days before your plan ends and lasts 60 days after. That’s a useful backstop if you miss open enrollment, but if you sign up after January 1 your new coverage starts later, so you could have a gap. See qualifying life events.
If you bought your Cigna plan directly from Cigna rather than through the Marketplace, no one will move you automatically. You’ll need to pick a new plan yourself.
How to pick your new plan
- Read your notice from the insurer and the Marketplace so you know your options and dates.
- Update your income estimate. Your tax credit for 2027 depends on it, and there’s no cap on paying back extra credit starting with 2026 coverage. See do you have to pay back your premium tax credit.
- Check your doctors and hospitals. Search each plan’s provider directory, then call the office to confirm. See how to find out if a doctor is covered.
- Check your prescriptions. Look up each drug on the plan’s formulary and note its tier. See does health insurance cover prescription drugs.
- Compare total costs, not just premiums. Add up the premium, the deductible and the out-of-pocket maximum for the way you actually use care.
- Enroll by December 15 and pay your first premium to the new insurer, not the Marketplace. Coverage doesn’t start until that first payment is made.
For a walk-through of switching, see how to switch health insurance companies, and for help comparing insurers, see best health insurance companies.
If you’re in the middle of treatment
This is where an insurer exit hurts most. If you’re pregnant, getting cancer treatment, scheduled for surgery or managing a serious condition, start early:
- Choose a new plan that includes your current doctors and hospital, if you can.
- Call the new insurer before January and ask about transition-of-care help and which services need prior authorization.
- Ask your doctor’s office to submit any needed approvals as soon as your new plan is in place.
- Get a written list of your current medications, doses and specialty pharmacy information.
Federal law gives up to 90 days of continued care in some cases when a doctor leaves your plan’s network, but it’s not clear that protection applies when your whole insurer leaves the market. Don’t count on it. Many insurers have also promised to honor existing prior authorizations when patients switch plans, but that’s a voluntary pledge, not a law.
What about your deductible?
Deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums reset on January 1 in most plans anyway, so switching at the start of the year doesn’t cost you credit you’ve built up. If you have big expenses planned, like a surgery, try to finish them in 2026 under your current plan, or confirm how the new plan covers them.
See which insurers are selling plans in your area for 2027. Compare quotes by ZIP code.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cigna leaving the Marketplace in 2027?
Yes. Cigna is leaving the individual market in all 11 states where it sells Marketplace plans: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Will I lose my coverage right away?
No. Your current plan covers you through December 31, 2026, as long as you pay your premiums.
What happens if I don’t pick a new plan?
On HealthCare.gov, you’ll usually be re-enrolled in a similar plan from another insurer. It may not include your doctors or drugs, so it’s better to choose your own plan by December 15.
Can I sign up after open enrollment ends?
Yes. A discontinued plan gives you a special enrollment period that lasts 60 days after your plan ends. But signing up late can leave you with a gap in coverage.
Sources
- KFF: Tracking insurer participation changes in the ACA Marketplaces in 2027
- healthinsurance.org: Health insurers are exiting the Marketplace again
- healthinsurance.org: My health insurance company is leaving my market. What can I do?
- HealthCare.gov: Keep or change your plan
- HealthCare.gov: Special Enrollment Period
- eCFR: 45 CFR 147.106, notice rules for discontinued coverage
This article is general information, not insurance advice. Insurer plans can change, so check your renewal notice and your Marketplace account. Last reviewed September 2026.