Obamacare (ACA) Health Insurance for 2027: What It Is, Who Qualifies and What It Costs
Obamacare is the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace of private health plans for people who don’t get coverage through a job, Medicare or Medicaid. For 2027, open enrollment runs Nov. 1, 2026 to Jan. 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov, and the benchmark Silver price went up in 1,844 of the 2,019 HealthCare.gov counties we priced, by 10% in the typical county. Tax credits lower the price for most people with household income from 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL): about $15,960 to $63,840 for one person.
- Nov. 1, 2026open enrollment starts
- Dec. 15pick a plan for Jan. 1 coverage
- Jan. 15, 2027open enrollment ends on HealthCare.gov
Updated Nov. 1, 2026 for 2027 plans. Sources: CMS, IRS, HealthCare.gov, KFF. Methodology
The basics
What is Obamacare (the Affordable Care Act), and how does it work?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) became law in 2010. People call it Obamacare. It created a Marketplace (also called the exchange) where you can compare and buy private health plans, with a tax credit to lower the monthly cost if your income qualifies.
How it works, in four steps: you fill out one application with your household and expected income; the Marketplace tells you whether you qualify for a tax credit or for Medicaid; you compare plans from the insurers in your area; and you pick a plan and pay the first month’s premium.
Obamacare, ACA, Marketplace: same thing?
Yes. Obamacare and the ACA are the law. The Marketplace or exchange is where you shop: HealthCare.gov in 29 states for 2027, or your state’s own exchange in 21 states and D.C. Private insurers sell every plan.
There’s no federal penalty for going without coverage, but California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island and D.C. have their own.
Which door are you?
Who is Obamacare for? Find your situation
If you’ve always had health insurance through a job, this is the place most people land when that changes. Pick the line that sounds like you.
No job plan
You’re under 65 and no employer offers you coverage: part-time, between jobs or a small-business owner.
This is who the Marketplace is built for. Price a plan with your expected 2027 income.
See what it costs →Self-employed or gig work
Freelancers, contractors, rideshare drivers and anyone with 1099 income.
Use your expected 2027 net self-employment income. If it changes during the year, update the Marketplace so your credit stays right.
See what it costs →Losing your coverage
You’re leaving a job, your COBRA is ending, or you lost Medicaid.
Losing coverage opens a special enrollment period: usually 60 days, or 90 days after losing Medicaid or CHIP. Compare COBRA’s full price with a Marketplace plan after the credit.
See what it costs →Retiring before 65
You’re 55 to 64 and stopping work before Medicare starts at 65.
Retirees often have lower income, so the credit can be large. Watch the 400% income line: earning even a little over it ends the credit.
See what it costs →Turning 26
You’re aging off a parent’s plan.
Turning 26 is a loss of coverage, so you can enroll outside open enrollment. Young adults with modest income often pay little after the credit.
See what it costs →
Check these first: you may not need a Marketplace plan
- Low income: under 138% of the poverty level ($22,025 for one person) in an expansion state? Check Medicaid first (below).
- Turning 65 or on Medicare: the Marketplace isn’t for you. See how Medicare works in our Medicare guide.
- A job offers you a plan: you get a tax credit only if that plan is unaffordable, meaning your share for employee-only coverage is more than 10.22% of household income in 2027, or it doesn’t meet minimum value.
2027 prices
How much does Obamacare cost per month in 2027?
Before tax credits, the benchmark Silver plan (the second-lowest-cost Silver plan where you live) averaged $625 a month for a 40-year-old in 2026, and the cheapest Bronze plan $456 (KFF). For 2027, that benchmark price went up in 1,844 of the 2,019 HealthCare.gov counties we priced from the CMS 2027 plan file, by 10% in the typical county. Your own price depends on three things: your age, your ZIP code and your household income.
- $625benchmark Silver, age 40, a month in 2026 before tax credits (KFF)
- 10%typical 2027 rise in the benchmark Silver price, across 2,019 HealthCare.gov counties
- 2.15%–10.22%share of income you’re expected to pay for the benchmark plan in 2027, depending on income
What moves your price
- Age: insurers can charge a 64-year-old up to 3 times what they charge a 21-year-old for the same plan.
- Where you live: prices are set by county and ZIP code, so the same plan costs very different amounts across a state line.
- Income: the tax credit fills the gap between the benchmark price and the share of income you’re expected to pay.
- Tobacco: most states let insurers charge tobacco users up to 50% more, and the tax credit doesn’t cover that extra charge.
- Metal level: Bronze has the lowest premium and highest costs when you get care; Gold and Platinum are the reverse.
See your own price in the free health insurance calculator: ZIP code, ages and income, with 2027 county prices in the 29 HealthCare.gov states.
| Metal level | Median deductible | Median out-of-pocket max | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | $7,500 | $12,000 | 1,150 |
| Silver | $6,400 | $10,300 | 1,303 |
| Gold | $2,000 | $8,600 | 1,109 |
| Platinum | $0 | $5,900 | 37 |
The out-of-pocket maximum is the most you pay in a year for covered in-network care. For 2027, no ACA plan can set it above $12,000 for one person or $24,000 for a family.
Prices: CMS 2027 plan file for the 29 HealthCare.gov states; KFF 2026 averages until 2027 averages come out. Page updated Nov. 1, 2026. How we got these numbers
Compare 2027 plans
Tax credits for 2027
Do I qualify for Obamacare tax credits in 2027?
The premium tax credit is a discount on Marketplace plans, paid straight to your insurer each month. For 2027 you can get it if three things are true:
- Your household income is 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level. The Marketplace uses your expected 2027 modified adjusted gross income (MAGI): roughly your adjusted gross income from your tax return, plus a few items such as tax-free Social Security.
- You can’t get Medicaid and you don’t have Medicare.
- No job offers you an affordable plan (your share for employee-only coverage is 10.22% of household income or less in 2027) that meets minimum value.
| Share of poverty level | 1 person | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100%: lowest income for a credit | $15,960 | $21,640 | $27,320 | $33,000 |
| 138%: Medicaid limit in expansion states | $22,025 | $29,863 | $37,702 | $45,540 |
| 250%: top of extra Silver savings | $39,900 | $54,100 | $68,300 | $82,500 |
| 400%: highest income for a credit | $63,840 | $86,560 | $109,280 | $132,000 |
Alaska and Hawaii use higher poverty lines. Medicaid uses the current year’s guidelines, which can differ slightly.
How the credit is figured
The Marketplace takes the price of the benchmark Silver plan for your household and subtracts what you’re expected to pay: 2.15% of income at the lowest incomes, rising to 10.22% from 300% to 400% of the poverty level. The difference is your credit. You can use it on any metal level; on a cheaper plan it can cover the whole premium.
Two 2027 rules to know
The 400% line is a cliff. Earn even a little over it and the whole credit goes away for the year. You repay extra credit in full. If your income ends up higher than you told the Marketplace, you pay back all of the extra advance credit at tax time; the old repayment caps ended starting with tax year 2026. Update your income when it changes.
Worked examples · 2027 county prices
What would Obamacare cost someone like me?
Four real 2027 prices from the CMS plan file, run through the 2027 tax credit rules. Your price will differ with your ZIP code, ages and income.
Self-employed, 29, Houston
One person, Harris County, Texas; $39,000 expected 2027 income (244% of the poverty level).
Self-employed, 29, Houston: 2027 monthly prices Benchmark Silver before the credit $586 Tax credit $312 Benchmark Silver after the credit $274 Cheapest Bronze after the credit $81 Over 12 months, Silver premiums come to $3,288 and Bronze to $972. At this income (200% to 250% of the poverty level), Silver comes with extra savings that cap covered in-network costs at $9,600 for the year, so the worst year on Silver is about $12,888; on Bronze it can reach $12,972 with a plan at the $12,000 limit. Bronze wins if you rarely see a doctor; Silver wins if you might have a big bill.
Early retirees, 60 and 62, Columbus
A couple, Franklin County, Ohio; $70,000 expected 2027 income (323% of the poverty level).
Early retirees, 60 and 62, Columbus: 2027 monthly prices Benchmark Silver before the credit $2,654 Tax credit $2,058 Benchmark Silver after the credit $596 Cheapest Bronze after the credit $0 Age makes their full price high, so the credit is large: they pay $7,152 a year for the benchmark Silver plan. A $0 Bronze plan is possible too, but its deductible is high, so price your expected care before you pick it.
The 400% cliff, 64, Jacksonville
One person, Duval County, Florida.
The 400% cliff, 64, Jacksonville: 2027 monthly prices Benchmark Silver before the credit $1,688 After the credit at $63,000 income $537 At $64,000 income (just over 400%) $1,688 (no credit) Earning $1,000 more ends the credit: that’s $1,151 more a month, about $13,812 a year. If your income is close to the line, ask a tax professional how pre-tax retirement or HSA contributions change the income the Marketplace counts.
Turning 26, Houston
One person aging off a parent’s plan, Harris County, Texas; $30,000 expected 2027 income (187% of the poverty level).
Turning 26, Houston: 2027 monthly prices Benchmark Silver before the credit $536 Benchmark Silver after the credit $154 Cheapest Bronze after the credit $0 At this income, Silver comes with extra savings that cap covered in-network costs at $4,000 for the year. Silver premiums come to $1,848 for 12 months, often a better deal than a $0 Bronze plan for anyone who uses care.
Benchmark = the second-lowest-cost Silver plan in the county; cheapest Bronze = the lowest-priced Bronze plan. Worst-year figures add 12 months of premiums to the year’s out-of-pocket maximum. Prices are for people who don’t use tobacco.
Metal tiers
Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum: which Obamacare plan fits?
The metal level tells you how a plan splits costs with you, not how good the care is. Every level covers the same 10 essential health benefits.
| Level | Plan pays on average | Usually best if you |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 60% | are healthy, want the lowest premium and could cover a high deductible. Every Bronze plan can pair with an HSA. |
| Silver | 70% | have income up to 250% of the poverty level: only Silver plans get extra savings that lower the deductible. |
| Gold | 80% | see doctors often, take regular prescriptions or expect a big bill. |
| Platinum | 90% | want the lowest costs when you get care and can pay the highest premium. Only a few insurers sell it. |
Extra Silver savings at lower incomes
If your income is 100% to 250% of the poverty level and you pick a Silver plan, cost-sharing reductions raise the plan’s share of costs and lower your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum: 94% plan share with a $4,000 out-of-pocket max for one person at 100% to 150% of the poverty level, 87% and $4,000 at 150% to 200%, and 73% and $9,600 at 200% to 250%.
Compare plans
How do I compare Obamacare plans? A 6-point checklist
- Price after the creditCompare the monthly premium you’d actually pay, not the full price.
- DeductibleWhat you pay before the plan starts sharing costs. A $0 Bronze plan can have a deductible of $7,500 or more.
- Out-of-pocket maximumYour worst-case year for covered in-network care. Add it to 12 months of premiums to compare plans fairly.
- NetworkSearch each plan’s provider directory for your doctors and nearby hospitals. HMO and EPO plans don’t pay out of network, except emergencies.
- Drug listCheck the plan’s formulary for each prescription and what tier it’s on.
- Plan typeHMO, PPO or EPO: whether you need referrals and whether out-of-network care counts.
Our full guide walks through each step: how to compare health insurance plans.
Have these ready
- Your ZIP code
- The age of everyone who needs coverage
- Expected 2027 household income
- Your doctors and prescriptions
- What a job plan would cost you, if one is offered
Your exact tax credit is set when you apply on HealthCare.gov or your state’s exchange.
Ready when you are
Dates and deadlines
When can I sign up for Obamacare?
- Nov. 1, 2026Open enrollment starts for 2027 plans.
- Dec. 15, 2026Last day to pick a plan on HealthCare.gov for coverage that starts Jan. 1.
- Jan. 15, 2027Open enrollment ends on HealthCare.gov. Plans picked Dec. 16 to Jan. 15 start Feb. 1.
States with their own exchange set their own dates: Idaho ends Dec. 15, 2026, and California, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island run to Jan. 31, 2027. See every state’s dates in our 2027 open enrollment guide.
After Jan. 15: special enrollment periods
You can sign up later in the year only after a qualifying life event: losing other coverage (including a job plan, COBRA ending or turning 26), moving to a new ZIP code or county, marrying, having or adopting a child, and a few others. You usually have 60 days; after losing Medicaid or CHIP, 90 days. For 2027, the monthly sign-up window for incomes up to 150% of the poverty line is gone, and joining through an income-based special enrollment period no longer comes with a tax credit.
Medicaid check
Is Obamacare Medicaid? How to check if Medicaid fits you better
No, they’re different. Medicaid is free or low-cost public coverage run by your state. You apply through the same Marketplace application, and if you qualify, the Marketplace sends you to Medicaid instead of a tax credit.
- 40 states and D.C. expanded Medicaid: adults under 65 with income up to 138% of the poverty level ($22,025 for one person) can usually get it.
- 10 states have not: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Adults there with income under 100% of the poverty level may get neither Medicaid nor a tax credit; Georgia and Wisconsin cover some of these adults through their own programs.
- New for 2027: adults 19 to 64 covered through Medicaid expansion must show about 80 hours a month of work, school, a work program or volunteering, starting by Jan. 1, 2027. Many groups are exempt, and states can get extensions.
- Children: many states cover children through Medicaid or CHIP at higher family incomes than adults.
Where to apply
Medicaid and CHIP accept applications all year. Apply through HealthCare.gov’s Medicaid and CHIP page or your state’s Medicaid agency, listed at Medicaid.gov.
We don’t sell Medicaid; this is general information. Your state makes the final decision.
What’s covered
What does Obamacare cover?
Every ACA plan, on or off the Marketplace, covers these 10 essential health benefits, and none can turn you down or charge more for a pre-existing condition:
- Doctor visits and outpatient care
- Emergency services
- Hospital stays
- Pregnancy, maternity and newborn care
- Mental health and substance use care
- Prescription drugs
- Rehab and habilitative services and devices
- Lab tests
- Preventive care, wellness and chronic disease care
- Children’s care, including dental and vision
What it usually doesn’t cover
- Adult dental and vision care (you can add a stand-alone dental plan)
- Cosmetic procedures
- Long-term care
- Out-of-network care in an HMO or EPO, except emergencies
Preventive care such as checkups and recommended screenings is covered with no copay before the deductible when you use an in-network provider.
What’s new for 2027
Can you still get Obamacare in 2027, and what changed?
Yes, the Affordable Care Act is still law and every state still has a Marketplace. What changed is how much help you get. All 2027 changes
- Tax credits
The extra credits ended
The bigger tax credits that began in 2021 expired after 2025. In 2027 you’re expected to pay 2.15% to 10.22% of income for the benchmark Silver plan, up from as little as 0%.
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-26 (July 2026) - Tax credits
The 400% cliff is back
No tax credit if household income is above 400% of the poverty level: $63,840 for one person or $132,000 for a family of four (higher in Alaska and Hawaii).
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-26; HHS 2026 poverty guidelines - Costs
Out-of-pocket limits went up
The most an ACA plan can make you pay for covered in-network care in 2027 is $12,000 for one person and $24,000 for a family, up from $10,600 and $21,200.
Source: CMS 2027 parameters guidance (Jan. 29, 2026) - Dates
Oregon runs its own exchange
For 2027, Oregon moves from HealthCare.gov to its own exchange, ExploreHealthOR. CMS has set Jan. 15 for 2027 (CMS statement, Aug. 4, 2026).
Source: HealthCare.gov; CMS statement (Aug. 4, 2026) - Eligibility
Tax credits for fewer immigrants
From 2027, Marketplace tax credits are limited to green card holders, certain Cuban and Haitian entrants and people from the Compact of Free Association nations. Other lawfully present immigrants can still buy a plan at full price.
Source: Public Law 119-21 (H.R. 1), sec. 71301 - Savings
Every Bronze plan works with an HSA
Since 2026, Bronze and catastrophic Marketplace plans can pair with a Health Savings Account.
Source: Public Law 119-21 (H.R. 1), sec. 71307
FAQ
Obamacare questions, answered
Is Obamacare the same as the Marketplace?
Yes. Obamacare is the nickname for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the Marketplace (also called the exchange) is where you buy an ACA plan. In 29 states you use HealthCare.gov for 2027; 21 states and D.C. run their own exchange, such as Covered California or Pennie in Pennsylvania. The plans are sold by private insurers.
Does Obamacare still exist in 2027?
Yes. The Affordable Care Act is still law, and you can buy a 2027 plan during open enrollment, Nov. 1, 2026 to Jan. 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. What changed is the help: the extra tax credits that began in 2021 ended after 2025, so there is no credit above 400% of the poverty level in 2027.
Do you have to pay for Obamacare?
Usually yes, you pay a monthly premium, but tax credits can lower it a lot. In 2027 you’re expected to pay 2.15% to 10.22% of your income for the benchmark Silver plan, and the credit covers the rest. Some people pay $0 a month for a Bronze plan after the credit. For example, a self-employed 29-year-old in Houston earning $39,000 pays about $274 a month for the benchmark Silver plan in 2027 instead of $586.
How much does Obamacare cost per month in 2027?
It depends on age, ZIP code and income. In 2026, the benchmark Silver plan for a 40-year-old averaged $625 a month before tax credits (KFF). For 2027, the benchmark Silver price went up in 1,844 of the 2,019 HealthCare.gov counties we priced, by 10% in the typical county. After tax credits, many people pay far less.
Do I qualify for Obamacare?
You can buy a Marketplace plan if you live in the U.S., are a U.S. citizen or lawfully present, aren’t in prison and don’t have Medicare. To get a tax credit in 2027, household income must be 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level ($15,960 to $63,840 for one person, $33,000 to $132,000 for a family of four), and you can’t have an affordable job plan or qualify for Medicaid.
Is Obamacare the same as Medicaid?
No. Medicaid is a free or low-cost public program run by each state for people with low income. Obamacare plans are private plans you buy, often with a tax credit. In the 40 states and D.C. that expanded Medicaid, adults under 65 with income up to 138% of the poverty level (about $22,025 for one person) usually get Medicaid instead.
What is the highest income to qualify for Obamacare tax credits in 2027?
400% of the federal poverty level: $63,840 for one person, $86,560 for two and $132,000 for a family of four (higher in Alaska and Hawaii). Above that, you can still buy a plan, but at full price, unless Congress changes the law.
Can I still get Obamacare after open enrollment ends?
Only with a special enrollment period. Losing other coverage, moving, marrying, having a baby or other life events usually give you 60 days to sign up. Medicaid and CHIP accept applications any time of year.
Can I keep my doctor with an Obamacare plan?
Only if your doctor is in the plan’s network. Before you pick a plan, search each plan’s provider directory for your doctors and check its drug list for your prescriptions. HMO and EPO plans cover only in-network care, except emergencies.
Health insurance guides
Keep going
- Health insurance quotes and costs2027 calculator, deadlines by state and the coverage quiz.Read the guide →
- 2027 open enrollment guideEvery state’s dates, deadlines and what to do if you miss them.Read the guide →
- How to compare health insuranceNetworks, drug lists and total yearly cost, step by step.Read the guide →
- Medicare health plansTurning 65: Parts A, B, C and D and Medicare supplement plans.Read the guide →
Methodology and sources
How we got these numbers
Where the numbers come from
- 2027 prices: the CMS Qualified Health Plan Landscape file for plan year 2027, covering 2,019 counties in the 29 states that use HealthCare.gov for 2027. For each county we keep the benchmark (second-lowest-cost Silver) and the cheapest Bronze monthly premium for a 40-year-old, before credits. The 10% typical rise is the middle value of each county’s change in the benchmark price from 2026 to 2027; every county counts once.
- Averages: KFF, Average Marketplace Premiums by Metal Tier, 2026, age 40. KFF hasn’t published 2027 averages yet, so these are labeled 2026.
- Worked examples: the county’s 2027 benchmark and cheapest Bronze prices, scaled to each age with the federal default age curve (Texas, Ohio and Florida all use it), then the 2027 tax credit rules. They match our calculator on the health insurance quotes page.
- Medians by metal level: the CMS 2027 plan file, one person, in-network, across the 29 HealthCare.gov states.
- Tax credits: IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-26 (2027 percentages from 2.15% to 10.22%; credit from 100% to 400% of the poverty level) and the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines, which apply to 2027 coverage.
- Rules and dates: HealthCare.gov; CMS 2027 parameters guidance (Jan. 29, 2026) and statement (Aug. 4, 2026); Public Law 119-21; KFF Medicaid expansion tracker (Oct. 2026).
Limits
These are plan prices and public rules, not a quote or an eligibility decision. Your exact price and tax credit are set when you apply on HealthCare.gov or your state’s exchange. Prices are for people who don’t use tobacco. Page updated Nov. 1, 2026.
InsuranceQuotes.com is part of AWL, Inc., Austin, Texas. We aren’t connected with HealthCare.gov or any government agency.
- About the Author
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Michael Giusti is a senior insurance analyst, business journalist, and university professor with over 20 years of experience. He serves as department chair at Loyola University New Orleans and contributes to Insurance Thought Leadership, U.S. News, and other leading financial outlets.
