Open Enrollment Checklist 2027: What You Need Before You Enroll
Gather these documents, income numbers, and doctor details before you apply for 2027 health insurance, plus the plan fields to compare and the dates to remember.
An Open Enrollment checklist saves time and prevents costly mistakes on your 2027 health insurance application. Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026, through January 15, 2027, in most states. Choose a plan by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1. This checklist covers the documents, numbers, and decisions to gather before you apply, whether you choose an ACA plan or a private plan.
What documents do you need for the marketplace application?
The marketplace application asks for personal, household, and job details for everyone who applies. Gather these documents before you start:
- Social Security numbers: for each applicant who has one
- Dates of birth: for each applicant
- Home and mailing addresses: for each applicant
- Immigration documents: document type and number for lawfully present immigrants
- Employer information: name, address, and phone for each job, plus any job-based coverage offered
- Current coverage: policy numbers for any current health plans
- Tax filing plans: who will file, whether you file jointly, and which dependents you will claim
Returning marketplace enrollees also need their 2026 plan notice. The notice lists your plan ID and your 2027 renewal details. Keep the notice open while you compare plans.
What income information does the marketplace need?
The marketplace needs your best estimate of household income for 2027, not 2026. Premium tax credits depend on that estimate. Use these sources to build it:
- Pay stubs: current wages and pre-tax deductions
- W-2 and 1099 forms: last year's income as a starting point
- 2025 federal tax return: adjusted gross income and filing status
- Self-employment records: expected 2027 net profit, not gross revenue
- Other income: Social Security, pensions, retirement withdrawals, unemployment, and rental income
Marketplace income means modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). Pre-tax 401(k) and HSA contributions lower MAGI. Nontaxable Social Security benefits still count. An estimate above 400% of the federal poverty level generally removes the premium tax credit for 2027. Read what to do if you earn over 400% FPL.
What should you check about your doctors and prescriptions?
Doctor and prescription checks protect you from surprise bills after January 1. Provider networks and drug lists change every plan year. Make a list before you compare plans:
- Primary care doctor: name and practice location
- Specialists: every specialist you saw in the last year
- Hospitals: your preferred hospital and urgent care center
- Prescriptions: drug name, dose, and how often you fill it
- Planned care: surgery, pregnancy, or therapy you expect in 2027
Check each doctor in the insurer's current provider directory, not last year's list. Check each drug in the plan's formulary and note its tier. A doctor who leaves the network can turn a cheap plan into an expensive one.
Which plan details should you compare?
A plan comparison should look at total yearly cost, not only the monthly premium. The table lists the main fields to compare.
| Plan feature | What it means | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | Your price after any tax credit | Yearly total: premium times 12 |
| Deductible | Amount you pay before most coverage starts | Whether you can cover it in a bad month |
| Out-of-pocket maximum | Most you pay in a year for covered in-network care | Your worst-case yearly cost |
| Copays and coinsurance | Your share per visit or service | Costs for your usual care |
| Network type | HMO, EPO, or PPO | Out-of-network coverage |
| Drug formulary | Covered drugs and their tiers | Your prescriptions |
Add the yearly premium and the out-of-pocket maximum to find each plan's worst-case cost. Compare that number across plans, then weigh the care you expect to use.
How do ACA plans and private plans differ at enrollment?
ACA plans and private plans follow different enrollment rules. ACA marketplace plans accept everyone during Open Enrollment and cannot turn you down for a pre-existing condition. Private plans outside the marketplace ask health questions, so eligibility depends on your answers. Private plans may be available year-round, and for healthy people, premiums may be lower. Private plans carry no premium tax credits and may not include every protection an ACA plan offers.
Depending on your health and situation, a private plan may cost less. If a private plan isn't the right fit, ACA plans can't turn you down because of a pre-existing condition. See ACA vs. private health insurance for a full comparison.
Which Open Enrollment dates should you put on your calendar?
Open Enrollment dates decide when your 2027 coverage starts. Most states follow this calendar:
- November 1, 2026: Open Enrollment opens
- December 15, 2026: last day to choose a plan for January 1 coverage in most states
- January 1, 2027: coverage starts for plans chosen by December 15
- January 15, 2027: Open Enrollment ends in most states; coverage starts February 1
Some state-based marketplaces set different deadlines. Virginia's Open Enrollment runs through January 29, and Maryland allows plan selection through December 31 for January 1 coverage. Check the 2027 deadlines by state. Pay your first premium on time, because coverage starts only after the insurer receives it.
Get a free review before you enroll
A licensed broker can work through this checklist with you in one call. I'll review your income estimate, check your doctors and prescriptions, and compare ACA and private options side by side. My help is free, and your price is the same whether you enroll on your own or with me.