The Affordable Care Act marketplace is opening enrollment for 2027 coverage starting November 1, with most states participating in the standard enrollment window that runs through January 15. Idaho, Connecticut, and Massachusetts began earlier, and several states have permitted advance window shopping to review rates. Consumers will encounter multiple changes compared to previous enrollment periods, including higher premiums and modified eligibility rules.
A significant factor affecting enrollment is the expiration of enhanced subsidies at the end of 2025, which policy experts attribute to millions of people dropping or losing coverage during the first several months of this year. The Trump administration has characterized the anticipated decline in overall enrollment as a success, pointing to fraud prevention efforts including an August cancellation of policies covering 760,000 enrollees identified as improperly signed up, though a small portion of those individuals have subsequently regained coverage.
New federal rules administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services introduce heightened verification requirements for consumers using agents or brokers in the federal marketplace, which covers 29 states. All consumers employing an agent will need to receive and authorize a one-time confirmation code via text, email, or phone call. Consumers designated as high-risk—including first-time applicants, those changing states, individuals switching agents, and policyholders with monthly premiums of $30 or less—must verify their identity through an approved third party before authorizing agent assistance.
Additionally, CMS implemented a moratorium on brokers newly registered to offer ACA coverage, preventing agents not registered in 2026 from assisting with 2027 enrollments until February at the earliest. The agency stated this decision followed a disproportionate number of compliance concerns from newly registered agents and brokers. Insurance professionals have expressed concerns that these measures, while addressing fraudulent enrollment practices, may create enrollment obstacles for legitimate consumers and operational challenges for smaller brokerages unable to secure previously registered staff.
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