Find the right next step for your health coverage.
Medicare and ACA Marketplace coverage have different rules, deadlines and costs. Start with your situation, then use the detailed guides and official plan tools to check the choices available to you.
START WITH YOUR SITUATION
What are you trying to decide?
02 / ACA MARKETPLACEEnroll or renew for 2027Know the federal deadlines and what to compare before renewing a plan.
03 / SUBSIDIESEstimate what I may payUnderstand the 400% income cutoff and the risk of repaying excess credits.
04 / JOB CHANGECompare COBRA with the MarketplaceSee three worked cost scenarios, deductible trade-offs and deadlines after job loss.
MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT
October 15 – December 7, 2026
People already enrolled in Medicare can review or change Medicare Advantage and Part D coverage for 2027 during this period. A plan that worked this year may have different benefits, providers, drug coverage or costs next year, so compare your own medications and care needs rather than relying on the monthly premium alone.
Switching from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare can raise a separate Medigap issue. Eligibility to buy a supplement without medical underwriting is limited under federal law outside certain protected situations, although state rules may add protections. Check the available rights before leaving an existing plan.
ACA MARKETPLACE
Plan for 2027 coverage
HealthCare.gov Open Enrollment runs November 1, 2026, through January 15, 2027. December 15 is generally the deadline for coverage starting January 1, while state-run Marketplaces may have different dates. Our 2027 guide explains the federal timetable and what changes when renewing a plan.
Leaving a job or losing insurance?
Losing qualifying employer coverage generally creates a Marketplace Special Enrollment Period, often 60 days. COBRA may let you keep your existing plan, but voluntarily dropping it later generally does not open another Marketplace enrollment window.
Compare premiums and expected medical bills under each option, confirm effective dates, and account for any deductible spending you would lose by switching plans. Our newly published comparison walks through three cost scenarios that show why the lowest premium may not mean the lowest total bill.
INCOME & PLANNING
When your income changes, your subsidy can change
Marketplace subsidies are based on an estimate of household income for the coverage year. Retirement distributions, investment gains or a new job can change the final credit, and excess advance credits generally must be repaid in full under the rules applying after 2025.
FIRST TIME COMPARING PLANS?
Start with premiums, deductibles and networks
A lower premium does not necessarily mean less spending during a year when you need care. Understand deductibles, copays, coinsurance, out-of-pocket limits and provider networks before comparing coverage.