Health Insurance Marketplace (Healthcare.gov)
Last updated August 2026
Healthcare.gov is the official place to buy your own health plan and get an income-based discount. Apply online, or call 1-800-318-2596. The call center runs day and night except holidays, and it can do the whole application with you. Free local helpers are listed under Find Local Help. No one legitimate charges for enrollment help.
Mark the dates, because the window is shrinking. For 2027 coverage, Open Enrollment runs November 1 to December 15, 2026. The old January 15 deadline is gone. Miss it and you wait a year, unless a life event opens a special window. Losing coverage, moving, marriage, or a birth generally gives you 60 days to act.
Straight talk on cost. The extra pandemic-era help expired at the end of 2025, and healthcare.gov itself warns people will likely pay more now. Discounts still exist and still scale with income. Two ways to get the most: modest income means pick a Silver plan, because the extra discounts only attach to Silver. And report income changes during the year, or you pay the extra back at tax time.
The application asks for one number people get wrong. It wants your best guess at NEXT year's income, not last year's tax return. Guess honestly, and update it when life changes.
Medicaid and CHIP run all year through this same application, and the routing works both ways. Look Medicaid-eligible and your file goes to your state. Lose Medicaid and you get a special window to buy a plan here. If a decision goes against you, appeal, generally within 90 days of your notice.
Phone 1-800-318-2596
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Most people with limited income qualify for subsidies that lower monthly premiums
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Apply at healthcare.gov, or call 1-800-318-2596, any hour except holidays. Some states route you to their own exchange; the site handles that.
- 2
Estimate NEXT year's income, not last year's. Include everyone on your tax return, even those not needing coverage.
- 3
Compare plans with the discount applied. Modest income? Choose Silver, because extra cost-sharing discounts only work on Silver plans.
- 4
Enroll between November 1 and December 15, 2026 for coverage starting January 1, 2027. The window no longer runs to January 15.
- 5
Missed it? Check for a special enrollment window: losing coverage, moving, marriage, or a birth usually gives you 60 days.
- 6
Report income and household changes during the year so your discount stays right and you avoid a tax-time payback.
What the application looks like
Common questions
When is Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage?
November 1 through December 15, 2026 on healthcare.gov. The window is shorter than past years; the January 15 end date is gone. Enroll by December 15 for January 1 coverage.
Can I get coverage outside Open Enrollment?
Only with a qualifying life event: losing other coverage, moving, marriage, birth, and similar. Most events give you a 60-day window. Medicaid and CHIP take applications year-round.
Why did my premium go up for 2026?
The enhanced pandemic-era subsidies expired December 31, 2025, and healthcare.gov warns enrollees to expect higher costs. Income-based discounts still exist; update your income estimate to get every dollar you qualify for.
What income do I report on the application?
Your best estimate of next year's income for your whole tax household. Not last year's return. Update it whenever things change, or you may owe money back at tax time.
Is help with the application free?
Yes. The 1-800-318-2596 call center and the assisters in the Find Local Help tool are free. Nobody legitimate charges you to enroll.
What if I disagree with my eligibility decision?
Appeal it, generally within 90 days of your eligibility notice. The notice explains how, and you can ask for more time with a good reason.
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