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    Choosing a 2027 ACA plan: metal tiers, deductibles and subsidies

    For 2027, HealthCare.gov Open Enrollment runs from 1 November 2026 to 15 January 2027, and the out-of-pocket limit rises to $12,000 for an individual.[1][2] Metal tiers set how costs are split, not the quality of care. Extra savings on deductibles are available only in silver plans. In 2026 many people moved to bronze plans, and average deductibles hit a record $3,786.[3][4][5]

    Editor reviewedStrict sourcingUpdated ExplainerHealth and medicine, Tech policy

    This guide sets out the facts that matter when comparing ACA Marketplace plans for 2027. It draws on HealthCare.gov’s official rules and published KFF data. Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage starts on 1 November 2026.[1]

    How this guide works: ContentLora does no hands-on testing and does not rate or recommend specific insurers or plans. We summarize official HealthCare.gov rules and published analyses, and we cite every claim. This guide is informational only and is not financial, tax or medical advice. A free Marketplace navigator or a licensed agent can help with your own choice, and a clinician can advise on your care needs.

    Key dates and figures for 2027

    Item2027Note
    Open Enrollment (HealthCare.gov)1 Nov 2026 to 15 Jan 2027[1]Enroll by 15 Dec for coverage from 1 Jan[1]
    Out-of-pocket limit$12,000 individual / $24,000 family[2]Up from $10,600 / $21,200 in 2026[2]
    2027 income and savings figuresPosted 1 Nov 2026[6]Until then, HealthCare.gov estimates use 2026 amounts[6]
    Proposed premium changeMedian +15% (proposed)[7]Final rates may differ[8]

    Metal tiers, explained

    Every Marketplace plan sits in a metal tier. The tier tells you roughly what share of covered costs the plan pays: about 60% for bronze, 70% for silver, 80% for gold and 90% for platinum. It says nothing about the quality of care.[3] Bronze plans generally have high deductibles, and gold and platinum plans have low ones.[3] Catastrophic plans are a fifth option for people under 30 or people with a hardship or affordability exemption.[3]

    TierPlan pays (average)You payDeductible
    Bronze60%40%High[3]
    Silver70%30%Moderate[3]
    Silver with cost-sharing reductions73-96%6-27%Low[4]
    Gold80%20%Low[3]
    Platinum90%10%Low[3]

    These percentages are HealthCare.gov’s average estimates, and actual costs vary by plan.[3]

    Points the official rules highlight

    • Look at total yearly cost, not only the premium. HealthCare.gov advises comparing your total health spending across tiers.[3] In 2026 many enrollees moved to bronze plans to cut premiums, and average deductibles rose 37%, to $3,786.[5]
    • Check whether you qualify for extra savings. Cost-sharing reductions apply only if you pick a silver plan.[4]
    • Estimate this year’s income carefully. Savings are based on your income estimate for the coverage year.[9] Under the 2025 law, people who underestimate their income must repay all excess advance credits.[10]
    • Know the 400% line. Since the enhanced credits expired, people above 400% of the federal poverty level get no premium tax credit.[11]
    • HSAs. Bronze and catastrophic plans work with Health Savings Accounts.[12]
    • Short-term plans are different. They can reject applicants for their medical history and do not qualify for ACA credits.[13]
    • Watch for unauthorized changes. CMS has added safeguards against agents and brokers acting without consent. These include electronic consumer authorization before an agent can act on an application.[14]

    What 2026 data show about choices

    When the enhanced credits expired, the average premium payment after credits rose 58%.[15] The share of sign-ups receiving credits fell from 92% to 87%.[16] Insurers have proposed a median 15% increase for 2027. KFF says the remaining credits will protect most enrollees from the full increase, but those above the subsidy cutoff pay full price.[7][17]

    For background on the rules and the politics, read the ACA Marketplace explainer and the premiums debate. Updates are in the health care changes tracker.

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    Developing in Health

    Questions readers ask

    What is the difference between bronze, silver, gold and platinum plans?

    On average the plan pays about 60% of covered costs in bronze, 70% in silver, 80% in gold and 90% in platinum. The tiers have nothing to do with the quality of care.[3]

    Who should consider a silver plan?

    People who qualify for cost-sharing reductions get those extra savings on deductibles, copays and coinsurance only in a silver plan. With them, silver plans pay an estimated 73-96% of covered costs.[4]

    What is the most I could pay out of pocket in 2027?

    For in-network covered care, Marketplace plans cap out-of-pocket costs at $12,000 for an individual and $24,000 for a family in 2027. Premiums and out-of-network care do not count toward that limit.[2]

    When do I need to enroll for coverage on 1 January 2027?

    On HealthCare.gov, by 15 December 2026. Open Enrollment runs from 1 November 2026 to 15 January 2027.[1]

    Can I use a Health Savings Account with a Marketplace plan?

    HealthCare.gov says bronze and catastrophic plans work with Health Savings Accounts.[12]

    Sources

    · 17 claims from 9 publishers

    Each numbered claim is a statement we checked against the sources listed with it. Tap a number in the text to see its sources in place.

    1. [1]

      On HealthCare.gov, Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage starts 1 November 2026; enrolling by 15 December gives coverage from 1 January, and Open Enrollment ends 15 January, with coverage from 1 February for later sign-ups. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    2. [2]

      The out-of-pocket limit for a Marketplace plan is $12,000 for an individual and $24,000 for a family in 2027, up from $10,600 and $21,200 in 2026; premiums and out-of-network care do not count toward it. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

      • Out-of-pocket maximum/limit (glossary) · HealthCare.gov (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) · Next line: "2027: No more than $12,000 for an individual or $24,000 for a family" (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    3. [3]

      Marketplace plans come in Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers, where the plan pays on average about 60%, 70%, 80% and 90% of covered costs, with deductibles generally high for Bronze, moderate for Silver and low for Gold and Platinum; the tiers do not reflect quality of care, HealthCare.gov advises comparing total yearly health spending rather than just premiums, and Catastrophic plans are available to people under 30 or with a hardship or affordability exemption. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

      • Health plan categories: Bronze, Silver, Gold & Platinum · HealthCare.gov (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) · Table: Bronze 60%/40% (deductible high), Silver 70%/30% (moderate), Gold 80%/20% (low), Platinum 90%/10% (low); "think about: Your total spending on health care, not just the premium" (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    4. [4]

      People who qualify for cost-sharing reductions ("extra savings") on deductibles and copays get them only if they choose a Silver plan; with them, HealthCare.gov estimates Silver plans pay 73-96% of covered costs, with the enrollee paying 6-27% and a low deductible. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    5. [5]

      Average Marketplace deductibles rose 37% ($1,027 per person) to a record $3,786 in 2026, largely because many enrollees moved from silver plans to high-deductible bronze plans. confirmedas of 2026-05-19

    6. [6]

      HealthCare.gov says 2027 income levels and savings estimates will be posted on 1 November 2026 and suggests using 2026 amounts for a rough estimate before then. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    7. [7]

      Across 276 Marketplace insurers in all 50 states and DC, the median proposed premium increase for 2027 is 15%, the second consecutive year of double-digit increases; for 2026 the median proposed change was 18% and the median finalized change 20%. confirmedas of 2026-08-03

    8. [8]

      Proposed 2027 changes range from -1% to 54%; 63% fall between 10% and 25%, 51 insurers asked for more than 25%, and the filings are preliminary. confirmedas of 2026-08-03

    9. [9]

      Marketplace savings are based on your estimated household income for the year you want coverage, not last year's income. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    10. [10]

      The 2025 reconciliation law requires Exchanges to verify eligibility before advance premium tax credits are paid, which KFF says could effectively end automatic re-enrollment starting in 2028; it also eliminates the cap on repaying excess advance credits and limits tax credits to certain categories of lawfully present immigrants. confirmedas of 2026-10-06

    11. [11]

      Under the enhanced credits, people with incomes above 400% of the federal poverty level paid no more than 8.5% of income for a benchmark silver plan; since the credits expired, people above 400% of poverty are not eligible for premium tax credits and pay the full premium. confirmedas of 2026-10-02

    12. [12]

      HealthCare.gov notes that Bronze and Catastrophic plans work with Health Savings Accounts. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    13. [13]

      KFF reports the administration is working to make short-term limited-duration plans easier to buy; unlike Marketplace plans, short-term plans can decline coverage or exclude pre-existing conditions, and premium tax credits cannot be used to buy them. confirmedas of 2026-10-06

    14. [14]

      CMS issued an interim final rule pausing new registration for the 2027 plan year for agents and brokers without an active 2026 Exchange agreement, and is requiring brokers to re-verify identity and to get electronic consumer authorization. confirmedas of 2026-09-22

    15. [15]

      Average monthly Marketplace premium payments after tax credits rose 58% in 2026, from $113 to $178. confirmedas of 2026-05-19

    16. [16]

      The share of Marketplace sign-ups receiving premium tax credits fell from 92% in 2025 to 87% in 2026. confirmedas of 2026-05-19

    17. [17]

      As of early October 2026 the enhanced credits had not been restored; KFF said remaining tax credits will shield most enrollees from 2027 premium increases, but higher-income enrollees no longer eligible for help would pay full costs. confirmedas of 2026-10-06

    Revision history (1)
    1. Page created.

    Created Oct 11, 2026. Last reviewed by an editor on Oct 11, 2026. Next scheduled review: Nov 2, 2026.

    Cite this page

    "Choosing a 2027 ACA plan: metal tiers, deductibles and subsidies." ContentLora, updated Oct 11, 2026. https://contentlora.com/explain/choosing-a-2027-marketplace-plan-guide

    Spotted an error? Suggest a correction or emailcorrections@contentlora.com.

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