ACA Auto-Renewal for 2027: Should You Keep Your Plan or Shop?
Open enrollment for 2027 started November 1, and ACA auto-renewal will keep you covered if you do nothing, but it carries more risk this year because insurers are leaving states, premiums are up again, and your subsidy is recalculated from your income, not carried over from last year. This guide explains what ACA auto-renewal does and does not do, which insurers are leaving, and a checklist to run through while enrollment is open.
What does ACA auto-renewal actually do?
ACA auto-renewal keeps you in your current Marketplace plan for the next year if you do not log in and choose something else. If your insurer is discontinuing your plan, the Marketplace typically moves you to a similar plan from another insurer. Auto-renewal does not check whether a different plan, a different metal level, or a different insurer would now fit your health needs and budget better. It also does not update your income, which is the number your subsidy depends on.
ACA auto-renewal also will not move you to a different metal level. A federal policy that moved some Bronze enrollees into a comparable Silver plan was removed effective plan year 2026, according to CMS guidance on 2027 renewal notices. A passive renewal keeps the metal level you already have, even if a different level would serve you better. A $5 auto re-enrollment charge that was finalized in the same federal rule never took effect, because a federal court stayed it.
That makes ACA auto-renewal convenient but passive. The decision to keep a plan should be one you make on purpose, not one the system makes for you by default.
When does open enrollment for 2027 coverage end?
Open enrollment is underway now. On HealthCare.gov, it opened November 1, 2026 and runs through January 15, 2027. Enroll or change plans by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1. Enroll between December 16 and January 15 and coverage starts February 1, according to healthinsurance.org.
State exchanges set their own dates, and many run later:
- January 31: California, D.C., New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island
- January 29: Virginia
- January 23: Massachusetts
- December 15: Idaho, which ends earlier than HealthCare.gov
Several state exchanges also accept January 1 plan selections through December 31, including California, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington. Massachusetts and Rhode Island use December 23. Check your own exchange, since a missed deadline can mean a later start date.
When does ACA auto-renewal actually happen?
HealthCare.gov typically begins showing auto-renewals in accounts around December 16, although the process starts weeks earlier, according to healthinsurance.org. If you log in on or after December 16, you may see a message that you were re-enrolled. Most state exchanges process renewals on or around December 1. A plan change made after December 15 generally starts February 1, so your auto-renewed plan would cover you in January. You also have to pay your first premium for the new plan year for coverage to begin.
Why is ACA auto-renewal riskier for 2027?
Premiums are rising again
Finalized benchmark Silver premiums rise an average of 13% for 2027, according to KFF’s October 30 analysis, as reported by Political.org, after insurers proposed a median increase of 15%. The increase averages 11% in HealthCare.gov states and 16% in states running their own platforms. That follows a 26% rise from 2025 to 2026, so average benchmark premiums are up about 42% over two years. Our guide to 2027 ACA premium increases covers the state by state picture.
There is a counterpoint. CMS reports that more than 75% of HealthCare.gov purchasers have access to plans with premiums at or below $50 in 2027, and that enrollees see about 100 plans from five to six insurers on average, according to its plan year 2027 fact sheet. What you pay depends on your income, your subsidy, and your insurer, and you only find the lower priced options by comparing, not by renewing.
Your insurer may have left your state
KFF is tracking 11 insurers that are leaving ACA Marketplaces for 2027, in some or all of the states where they sell plans. The largest is Cigna, which is leaving the individual market in all 11 states where it participates: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Cigna had more than 350,000 people in on-exchange plans in the first quarter of 2026.
Trade reports compiled by Money Talks News name other exits:
- Molina: shrinking from 14 states to six
- CareSource: Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia
- Medica: Iowa, Kansas, and Oklahoma
- PacificSource: Idaho, Montana, and Oregon
- Baylor Scott & White: Texas
- Providence Health Plan: Oregon
- UnitedHealthcare: Georgia
- Cox HealthPlans: Missouri
- ConnectiCare: Connecticut, where it will sell only off the exchange
- Centene: Delaware, New Hampshire, and its Sunshine State Health Plan in Florida
- Mending: Maine and Oklahoma
Sources count exits differently, and the list may change, so confirm your insurer’s status with your state exchange or KFF’s tracker. If your insurer is leaving, you are being assigned a replacement plan, and that plan may not include your doctors or cover your prescriptions the same way. Our state guides for Texas, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Indiana, and Arizona cover local options.
Your subsidy can change even if your plan does not
The enhanced premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025, so the 400% of the federal poverty level limit applies again. For 2027 coverage, that limit is $63,840 for a single person and $132,000 for a family of four. Earn one dollar over and the entire credit is gone, as explained in our guide to the ACA subsidy cliff.
Your credit is the price of the benchmark Silver plan minus a share of your income that the IRS sets each year. For 2027, Revenue Procedure 2026-26 sets these expected contributions:
| Household income (% of federal poverty level) | Share of income you are expected to pay |
|---|---|
| Below 133% | 2.15% |
| 133% to under 150% | 3.23% to 4.30% |
| 150% to under 200% | 4.30% to 6.78% |
| 200% to under 250% | 6.78% to 8.66% |
| 250% to under 300% | 8.66% to 10.22% |
| 300% to 400% | 10.22% |
For example, a single adult with a $48,000 income is just over 300% of the poverty level, so the expected contribution is 10.22%, or roughly $4,900 a year, about $409 a month, toward the benchmark plan. If your income estimate is wrong or has changed, so is that number.
ACA auto-renewal does not update your income. Your credit is based on the income you estimate for 2027, and the caps on repaying excess credits are gone. Underestimating income can mean a large repayment at tax time, which we cover in the 2026 repayment trap. Overestimating can leave credit unclaimed until you file. Use how to calculate your real ACA subsidy to run your numbers.
Out-of-pocket maximums are higher
The maximum out-of-pocket limit for 2027 is $12,000 for an individual and $24,000 for a family, up from $10,600 and $21,200 in 2026, a 13.2% increase, according to Milliman. A renewed plan with a similar premium can still expose you to more cost in a bad health year, so compare the maximum, not just the monthly price.
What should I check before ACA auto-renewal kicks in?
Enrollment is already open, so you have time, but December 15 is the date to work toward for January 1 coverage. Run through this list now, before you let ACA auto-renewal decide for you.
- Read your renewal notice. It shows your new premium, deductible, and subsidy. Do not assume they match last year.
- Confirm your insurer is still offering your plan. Check the exit list above and your exchange’s plan list.
- Update your 2027 income estimate. This sets your credit, and the repayment caps no longer protect you.
- Compare deductible and out-of-pocket maximum, not only the premium. A flat premium can come with a higher deductible.
- Recheck your doctors and prescriptions. Networks and drug lists change from year to year, even when a plan keeps its name.
- Consider your metal level. ACA auto-renewal will not move you up to Silver, so decide whether Bronze, Silver, or Gold fits your year. Bronze and catastrophic Marketplace plans are HSA eligible, according to Healthcare Insider, which can matter if you want to pair a high deductible with an HSA.
- Pay your first premium on time. Coverage starts only after your application is complete and your first payment is made, so keep your confirmation notice.
Is this the last easy renewal year?
Possibly. Under the 2025 federal budget law, subsidies for 2028 and later are available only if your eligibility information is verified and updated each year, according to healthinsurance.org. Coverage itself can still auto-renew, but without subsidies. Building the habit of checking your plan and income now makes that change easier.
What if I skip ACA auto-renewal and look at other options?
If ACA auto-renewal no longer looks like the right fit, an ACA Marketplace plan is not the only way to cover yourself, and the right choice depends on your income, health needs, and risk tolerance. Options to compare include MEC plans, short-term medical insurance for a temporary gap, an ICHRA if your employer offers one, and COBRA if you are leaving a job.
A Health Share is another option some households compare. It is a membership where members contribute monthly and share eligible medical bills under written guidelines. A Health Share is not insurance and does not guarantee payment of any bill, and most programs have waiting periods for pre-existing conditions, so weigh those trade-offs against the protections an ACA plan provides. No payment method offers an absolute guarantee, though. According to KFF’s analysis of CMS data, insurers on HealthCare.gov denied 19% of in-network claims in 2024. See ACA vs. Health Share for individuals and Health Shares vs. traditional insurance for a side by side look. Some people also pair coverage with Direct Primary Care for routine visits.
To see the full range of options for your state and income while enrollment is open, compare your coverage options.
Frequently asked questions
Will ACA auto-renewal keep my plan if I do nothing? Generally yes. With ACA auto-renewal, if you take no action, the Marketplace typically keeps you in your current plan for 2027, or moves you to a similar plan if your insurer is leaving. Your subsidy is recalculated, so review the new amount.
What happens if my insurer is leaving the Marketplace? You will usually be assigned a similar plan from a different insurer. That plan may have different doctors, prescription coverage, and costs, so review it before your coverage starts and choose your own plan if it is a poor fit.
Will ACA auto-renewal move me to a better plan? No. The federal policy that moved some Bronze enrollees into Silver plans was removed starting with plan year 2026. If your insurer is leaving, you are matched with a comparable plan, but it is not chosen for value, so compare it yourself.
Why would my subsidy change if I keep the same plan? Your premium tax credit depends on your estimated income and the price of the benchmark Silver plan in your area. Both can change from year to year, and the 400% of poverty limit is back for 2027.
When is the deadline to change my 2027 Marketplace plan? On HealthCare.gov, enroll by December 15 for coverage starting January 1, or by January 15 for coverage starting February 1. Many state exchanges use different dates, so check yours.
Is it better to shop every year than rely on ACA auto-renewal? Enrollment assisters generally recommend comparing plans each year, since premiums, deductibles, networks, and your own income can change.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not insurance, legal, tax, or financial advice. Premium and insurer participation information comes from KFF and Money Talks News, renewal rules from CMS and healthinsurance.org, subsidy percentages from IRS Revenue Procedure 2026-26, plan availability from CMS, out-of-pocket maximums from Milliman, and plan information from Healthcare Insider, reported in 2026. Insurer exit lists differ by source and may change. Always confirm your premium, subsidy, plan network, and deadlines at HealthCare.gov or your state exchange before your plan renews.
By the Modern Healthcare Works team