Open enrollment starts November 1, and this year there's more going on than the usual rate changes. Four headlines are worth knowing about before you renew on autopilot.
Employer Health Costs Are Jumping
If you get coverage through work, expect the cost to keep climbing. A Mercer survey projects employers' total health benefit cost per employee will rise 8.2% on average in 2027 — the biggest increase since 2003. Employers said it would have been about 11% if they hadn't made changes to their plans. Mercer points to GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, more claims being submitted, and rising provider costs as some of the drivers.
What it means for you: that increase gets shared between the company and employees, so check what your payroll deduction, deductible, and family coverage cost look like this year. If you're a business owner, this is the year to look at your options before your renewal lands.
Marketplace Premiums Are Going Up Again
If you buy your own plan, KFF's analysis of 276 insurers found a median proposed premium increase of 15% for 2027. That follows a steep climb last year, when the median finalized increase was around 20%. Insurers point to rising healthcare costs, and to the enhanced tax credits that expired at the end of 2025.
Keep in mind: those are proposed rates and they vary a lot by plan and by state, so your actual number could be higher or lower. If you receive a subsidy, part of any increase may be absorbed by a larger tax credit, which is why you should look at your net cost after subsidy rather than the sticker price.
Some Carriers Are Leaving The Marketplace
Several insurers are pulling back for 2027. Cigna is exiting the individual market in 11 states, including Florida, which affects about 369,000 members. Molina is cutting back from 14 states to 6. All told, insurers are leaving the Marketplace in more than 20 states.
What it means for you: if your plan is ending, you should get a notice, but don't wait on it. And be careful about letting your plan just auto-match you to a replacement. A new plan can mean different doctors, a different drug list, and a different deductible, so compare your options before you re-enroll.
CMS Cancelled More Than 760,000 Unauthorized Enrollments
On September 22, CMS announced it will cancel roughly 315,000 Marketplace enrollments affecting more than 760,000 people, calling them unauthorized enrollments, and recover about $2.2 billion in subsidies. CMS said agents and brokers who first registered for 2026 accounted for a disproportionate share of the problem. It has terminated more than 200 agents and brokers since January and put a temporary moratorium on new agents and brokers registering for 2027.
In plain English: some people were enrolled in plans without their approval. If you bought your coverage through an agent, log in to your HealthCare.gov account and confirm that your plan, your income, and your agent are what you expect. If anything looks wrong, or you're not sure you actually have coverage, call the Marketplace or a licensed advisor you trust right away rather than waiting for a bill or a denied claim.
What To Do Now
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1 through January 15 on HealthCare.gov, and you need to enroll by December 15 for coverage to start January 1. Between now and then: confirm your plan is still offered, check your doctors and prescriptions, update your income estimate, and compare your net cost after subsidy. Fifteen minutes now beats a surprise in January.