Quick answer
Don’t let your plan renew on autopilot. Update your income estimate, then compare every plan in your area when open enrollment starts on November 1. Many people can pay less by switching to a cheaper silver plan, a bronze plan, or in some areas a gold plan that costs less than silver. Also check whether your state adds its own subsidy, and whether you qualify for Medicaid or cost-sharing reductions.
Key takeaways
- Insurers asked for a median premium increase of about 15% for 2027, before tax credits.
- If you get a premium tax credit, your cost for the benchmark silver plan is capped at a share of your income, so the full increase usually doesn’t reach you. Other plans can change a lot, though.
- In 2026, 34% of people who signed up picked a plan costing $10 a month or less after tax credits.
- About 10 states add their own premium help, and Virginia is starting a new state subsidy for 2027.
- Pick a plan by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1. HealthCare.gov open enrollment ends January 15, 2027.
On this page
Why premiums are going up for 2027
Insurers proposed a median increase of about 15% for 2027, with changes ranging from a small cut to 54% depending on the insurer. They point to rising medical costs, expensive drugs like GLP-1s, and healthier people dropping coverage after the extra-large tax credits of 2021 through 2025 expired at the end of 2025. Congress hasn’t brought them back.
Some insurers are also leaving. Cigna is exiting all 11 of its states. If your insurer is one of them, see what to do if your insurance company leaves the Marketplace.
How the tax credit limits what you pay
If your household income is between 100% and 400% of the poverty level, the premium tax credit caps what you pay for the benchmark plan, which is the second-cheapest silver plan in your area. When premiums rise, your credit usually rises with them. For one person in 2027, the cap works out like this:
| Income | Share of poverty level | Your cost for the benchmark silver plan |
|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | 157% | About $96 a month |
| $35,000 | 219% | About $219 a month |
| $45,000 | 282% | About $362 a month |
| $55,000 | 345% | About $468 a month |
| $64,000 | 401% | No credit, full price |
The credit is a set dollar amount. You can use it on any metal level, so a plan that costs less than the benchmark costs you less too, sometimes nothing. A plan that costs more than the benchmark means you pay the difference. For the basics, see what is a subsidy in health insurance.
Above 400% of the poverty level ($63,840 for one person or $132,000 for a family of four in 2027), there’s no credit at all.
Ways to pay less for 2027
Don’t auto-renew
If you do nothing, you’ll usually be renewed into the same plan or a similar one. But plans and prices change every year, and the benchmark plan that sets your credit can switch to a different insurer. A plan that was a good deal in 2026 may not be in 2027. When returning enrollees were surveyed for 2026, 28% had switched plans, and about a quarter of those moved down a metal level.
Get your income estimate right
Your credit is based on what you expect to earn in 2027, not what you made last year. Estimate too high and you pay more each month than you need to. Estimate too low and you pay it back at tax time, and there’s no longer a cap on that repayment. See do you have to pay back your premium tax credit.
Compare bronze, silver and gold
Bronze plans have the lowest premiums, often $0 after the credit, but much higher deductibles. The average bronze deductible was $7,186 in 2026, compared with $5,304 for silver. Bronze works best if you’re healthy and could cover the deductible in a bad year.
In many areas, insurers load extra cost onto silver plans. That can make a gold plan, with a lower deductible, cost less than a silver plan after the credit. It’s worth checking gold prices even if you’ve always bought silver. See the difference between bronze, silver, gold and platinum plans and whether a high or low deductible is better.
Keep silver if you qualify for cost-sharing reductions
If your income is under 250% of the poverty level, a silver plan comes with cost-sharing reductions that lower your deductible and copays. You only get them with silver. If you use much care at all, a silver plan with these extras can beat a $0 bronze plan.
Look for a state subsidy
Some states add their own help on top of the federal credit. KFF lists California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Vermont and Washington. Virginia is adding a new state subsidy for 2027 for people with incomes between 138% and 250% of the poverty level. You usually have to buy through your state’s Marketplace to get it.
Consider an HSA-eligible plan
Since 2026, bronze and catastrophic Marketplace plans count as HSA-eligible. You can put up to $4,500 for yourself or $9,000 for a family into a health savings account for 2027, and that money lowers your taxable income. See what is an HSA.
Check catastrophic plans if you’re under 30
Catastrophic plans have low premiums and very high deductibles. They’re open to people under 30. If you’re 30 or older, you need a hardship or affordability exemption. You can’t use the premium tax credit on them. See catastrophic health insurance.
Check Medicaid and job-based coverage
In states that expanded Medicaid, adults with incomes up to 138% of the poverty level ($22,025 for one person) usually qualify, often for free. See health insurance for low-income families. If your employer offers affordable coverage, you generally can’t get a tax credit, but your family might; see can I get Marketplace coverage if my employer offers it.
Lower your countable income
The Marketplace uses your modified adjusted gross income. Money you put into a traditional 401(k), traditional IRA or HSA lowers it. For some people, a retirement contribution raises their tax credit enough to matter, especially near the 400% line.
Quit tobacco
Insurers can charge tobacco users up to 50% more, and the tax credit doesn’t cover that extra charge. See does smoking affect your health insurance rates.
Get free help
Marketplace navigators and many licensed brokers help you compare plans at no cost to you. You can find local help through HealthCare.gov.
Key dates for 2027
- Late October: HealthCare.gov usually lets you preview 2027 plans and prices. Renewal letters should arrive by November 1.
- November 1, 2026: Open enrollment starts.
- December 15, 2026: Last day to pick a plan that starts January 1.
- January 15, 2027: Open enrollment ends on HealthCare.gov. Some state Marketplaces run later.
See when open enrollment is for state dates, and how much health insurance costs for a single person for price ranges.
Ready to compare? See 2027 plans and prices for your ZIP code.
Frequently asked questions
Will my Marketplace premium go up in 2027?
Premiums before subsidies are rising about 15% at the median. What you actually pay depends on your income, your credit and the plan you pick, so compare plans instead of auto-renewing.
Is a $0 bronze plan a good idea?
It can be if you’re healthy and could handle a high deductible. If you see doctors often or take regular medications, a silver or gold plan may cost less overall.
Why would gold cost less than silver?
In many states, insurers add extra cost to silver plans. That raises the benchmark and the tax credit, which can make some gold plans cheaper than silver after the credit.
Can I still change plans after December 15?
Yes, until open enrollment ends: January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov, and later in some states, such as January 31 in California, New Jersey, New York and Washington, D.C. A plan you pick after December 15 starts February 1. After open enrollment closes, you usually need a qualifying life event, like losing other coverage, moving or having a baby.
Sources
- Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker: How much and why ACA Marketplace premiums are going up in 2027
- CMS: Health Insurance Exchanges 2026 Open Enrollment Report (PDF)
- Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker: Higher premium payments or higher deductibles
- KFF: Which states offer additional financial assistance for Marketplace plans?
- healthinsurance.org: 2027 ACA open enrollment: What’s changing
- HealthCare.gov: Keep or change your plan
This article is general information, not insurance or tax advice. Premiums and subsidies depend on your age, income, county and plan. Last reviewed September 2026.