ACA Marketplace Premiums Will Rise 13% on Average for 2027: What to Check Before Open Enrollment Starts Nov. 1

A second straight year of double-digit increases means many people who buy their own health insurance should compare plans instead of letting coverage renew on autopilot.

How much are ACA Marketplace premiums going up for 2027?

Benchmark premiums in the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces will rise 13% on average for 2027, according to a KFF analysis published Friday, Oct. 30, of newly released federal plan data. That follows a 26% jump from 2025 to 2026. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage starts Sunday, Nov. 1.

The Trump administration released the 2027 prices "quietly Friday afternoon as a data file," The New York Times reported, covering the 30 states whose Marketplaces are run by the federal government through HealthCare.gov. KFF, a health research group, published its analysis that afternoon.

The "benchmark" is the second-lowest-cost silver plan in each area. It matters because the federal premium tax credit is calculated from it. KFF found insurers had proposed a median increase of 15%, so the final average of 13% came in a little lower. The increase is 11% in states that use HealthCare.gov and 16% in states that run their own enrollment websites.

What the government says shoppers can still find

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which runs HealthCare.gov, focused on what is still affordable. In its 2027 plans and prices fact sheet, dated Oct. 30, CMS said more than 75% of Americans who buy coverage through HealthCare.gov "will continue to have access to premiums at or below $50 in 2027" after tax credits.

CMS also said that people eligible for tax credits will have access to a plan with nearly 90% of the lowest-cost premium paid by the federal government, compared with 85% in 2020. Shoppers have access to about 100 plans and five to six insurance companies on average, and about 35 plans on average that work with a health savings account (HSA). The fact sheet did not give an average premium change.

Both things can be true at once. Many lower- and middle-income enrollees get subsidies that cap what they pay, so their own cost may barely move. People who pay full price feel the whole increase.

Who is likely to feel the increase most

KFF says people with incomes above 400% of the federal poverty level "will be particularly hard hit" because they no longer qualify for premium tax credits and must pay the full cost of coverage. KFF notes that the enhanced premium tax credits, which had expanded help to more households, expired in 2026.

The Times reported that customers earning less than $64,000 a year make up most enrollees and will still get income-based subsidies. It said roughly 10% are older consumers who earned more than $63,840, a group that includes many self-employed workers and early retirees. For a 50-year-old single person, the cheapest high-deductible bronze plan will average about $700 a month, the Times reported, citing KFF's Cynthia Cox. The average ACA deductible hit a record of nearly $4,000 in 2026.

Here is a simple illustration of what 13% means for someone paying full price. If your unsubsidized premium is $600 a month this year and it rises by the 13% average, it would be about $678 a month in 2027. That is $78 more a month, or $936 more over the year. Your actual change depends on your area, age and plan.

Other changes may affect who can get help. KFF notes that 43 states and Washington, D.C., must start Medicaid work requirements by the start of 2027, and people who lose or are denied Medicaid solely for not meeting them will also be ineligible for subsidized Marketplace plans in those states. Starting in 2027, tax credits are also limited to certain groups of lawfully present immigrants, such as green card holders.

Fewer people are enrolled, and some insurers are leaving

The Marketplace is shrinking after this year's price jump. KFF says plan selections fell by 1.2 million during the last open enrollment, and paid enrollment was down 12%, or 2.6 million people, to 19.2 million by February 2026. The Congressional Budget Office projects enrollment falling from a peak of 22.4 million in 2025 to 13.1 million in 2027.

Insurer choices are shifting too. As of Oct. 29, 11 insurers had announced plans to leave at least one state for 2027, while seven planned to enter a new state, KFF found. If your insurer is leaving, you will need to pick a new plan.

What this means for your wallet

Open enrollment is the one time each year most people can change Marketplace plans without a special life event, so the dates matter. According to HealthCare.gov, you must enroll or change plans by Dec. 15 for coverage that starts Jan. 1. If you sign up between Dec. 16 and Jan. 15, coverage starts Feb. 1. After Jan. 15, you generally need a special enrollment period.

A few steps can help you compare without guessing:

• Update your income estimate. Your tax credit is based on expected 2027 household income, so an old number can mean paying too much each month, or owing money back at tax time.
• Check the total cost, not just the premium. A cheap bronze plan with a high deductible can cost more if you use care often. Our guide to health insurance terms explains deductibles, copays and out-of-pocket maximums.
• Look at HSA-eligible plans if you are healthy and can save. Our explainer on health savings accounts covers how they work.
• Retiring before 65? Our guide to health insurance before Medicare walks through your options.

Employer coverage is getting pricier as well. The Times reported that consulting firms project employer plan premiums could rise about 10% in 2027, so this is a good year for everyone to compare options during open enrollment.