Open Enrollment 2027: What to know
Key dates (ACA/Marketplace)
NeNew Hampshire:
Open Enrollment starts Nov 1.
Choose/renew by Dec 15 for Jan 1 coverage
What’s different (ACA/Marketplace) in 2026
Enhanced ACA subsidies are set to expire in January 2026 as Congress did not extend them. Many enrollees may face higher premiums.
Is Your Insurance Company Leaving the Marketplace? Ambetter from NH Healthy Families will stop offering New Hampshire Marketplace coverage after December 31, 2026. If you have an Ambetter Marketplace plan, review your insurer and Marketplace notices and choose replacement coverage during Open Enrollment.
Select a new plan by December 15, 2026, for coverage starting January 1, 2027. When comparing plans:
Check that your doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions are covered.
Compare deductibles, copayments, and total costs—not just monthly premiums.
Update your expected income and household information to check your eligibility for financial assistance.
Pay your new plan’s first premium by the insurer’s deadline.
This change applies to Ambetter Marketplace plans. NH Healthy Families Medicaid coverage and Wellcare Medicare prescription drug plans are continuing in New Hampshire.
Navigator Funding Has Been Cut—But Free Help Is Still Available
The Trump administration sharply reduced federal funding for health insurance navigators, who provide free, unbiased help understanding coverage and enrolling in a plan. New Hampshire’s federal navigator grant fell from $1.5 million in 2024 to $115,000 annually in 2025 and 2026—a reduction of about 92 percent.
With substantially less funding supporting enrollment assistance, reaching out early is especially important. Free help remains available through NH Navigator and HealthCare.gov’s Find Local Help directory.
You can also call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325) for application and enrollment assistance.
10-minute checklist (ACA & Medicare)
Log in early (after Nov 1) and review 2027 options—don’t auto-renew.
Update household income and family size to get the right subsidy/CSR level.
Compare total cost, not just premium: deductible, copays, coinsurance, OOP max.
Check your doctors/hospitals are in-network for 2027.
List your medications and check each plan’s formulary (especially for Part D).
If you qualify for CSRs, focus on eligible Silver plans to cut out-of-pocket costs.
Medicare users: Review your Annual Notice of Change and shop—average premiums and OOP caps shift in 2026, and plan counts change.
Mark deadlines: Marketplace Dec 15 (for Jan 1 start); Medicare Dec 7.
Get help if needed: State navigators/assisters and SHIP counselors (for Medicare) can walk you through choices.
Picking a Marketplace plan (quick refresh)
Plans & tiers: Bronze (lower premiums/higher out-of-pocket), Silver, Gold, Platinum. Cost-sharing reductions (CSRs)—“extra savings”—can lower deductibles/copays for eligible low-income enrollees on certain Silver plans. Use your state exchange’s comparison tools.
Deadlines matter: Enroll by Dec 15 for Jan 1 coverage; later selections (often allowed until mid-Jan) start later. 10-minute checklist (ACA & Medicare)
Log in early (by Nov 1) and review 2027 options—don’t auto-renew.
Update household income and family size to get the right subsidy/CSR level.
Compare total cost, not just premium: deductible, copays, coinsurance, OOP max.
Check your doctors/hospitals are in-network for 2026.
List your medications and check each plan’s formulary (especially for Part D).
If you qualify for CSRs, focus on eligible Silver plans to cut out-of-pocket costs.
Medicare users: Review your Annual Notice of Change and shop—average premiums and OOP caps shift in 2027, and plan counts change.
Mark deadlines: Marketplace Dec 15 (for Jan 1 start); Medicare Dec 7.
Get help if needed: State navigators/assisters and SHIP counselors (for Medicare) can walk you through choices. What’s different (ACA/Marketplace) in 2027
Key Facts
The open enrollment period for Marketplace plans is your best time to enroll — but if you’ve had a life event (job change, move, marriage, etc.), you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Covering NH+1
Medicaid and CHIP accept applications year-round — don’t wait until the next open enrollment.
Seek free help from certified assisters to compare plans, check eligibility and apply correctly.
Know the deadlines: If you want coverage starting January 1, submit on time. If you miss the deadline, you may have to wait until the next year unless you qualify for a special rule.
Get Help
Need assistance? Here’s how:
Call our hotline: (800) 318-2596
Find a local navigator: We have a network of free, trained helpers throughout New Hampshire. (Link to local listing)
Ask questions anytime: Whether you’re applying for the first time, renewing your coverage, or exploring new options — we’re here to guide you.
What Kinds of Plans Are Available?
The Health Insurance Marketplace offers a variety of plans to pick from. You have the option to pick a Bronze Plan, Silver Plan or Gold Plan. Plans in each category pay different amounts of the total costs of your healthcare. For instance, you may pay 40% of the cost if you go with the Bronze plan, 30% with Silver, and 20% with Gold. Co-pay and deductibles may apply.
What to Consider When Choosing a Plan
If you expect a lot of doctor visits or need regular prescriptions, you may want a low deductible Silver or Gold plan. These plans generally have higher monthly premiums but pay more of your costs when you need care.
If you don’t expect to use regular medical services and don’t take regular prescriptions:
You may want a Silver or Bronze plan. These plans cost you less per month, but pay less of your costs when you need care. Make sure you look at all the costs that come with having health insurance. Be familiar with the plan’s monthly premium (how much you pay each month), deductible (the amount you pay before your insurance begins to pay), and co-pays (a dollar amount you pay for a medical service). It is important to consider all of these costs when choosing a health plan. The plan that is the least expensive every month may not necessarily be the best option for you and your family.
What’s a Health Insurance Marketplace? Why do I need health insurance?
The new health care law sets up a Health Insurance Marketplace in each state, which is your one-stop shopping destination for health insurance. It works in the same way you would shop for any other important item in your life: You look at all the available options in your area, compare each plan’s features and prices side-by-side, then choose the one that fits your needs and your budget.
6 Key Facts About the New Health Insurance Options:
Financial help is available
Preventive care is free
Application help is available — and free
You can’t be turned down for coverage for a having a pre-existing condition
The costs and benefits of each plan must be explained in easy-to-understand language — with no fine print
All health insurance plans have to cover important benefits, like doctor visits, hospitalizations, prescriptions, and more
What Your New Insurance Gets You:
Doctor visits
Prescription coverage
Mental health services
Emergency services and hospitalizations
Maternity care
Infant care and children’s care
Free preventive care, such as:
Vaccinations
Cholesterol screening
Blood pressure screening
Colorectal cancer screening
Mammograms
Pap smears
Information from www.getcovered.org