Quick version: Florida ACA Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. Enroll by December 15, 2026 for a January 1 start. The enhanced premium tax credits (ARPA/IRA) expired December 31, 2025 — the 400% FPL subsidy cliff is back, and KFF data shows a median 15% premium increase across ACA carriers for 2027. This is the biggest shift in the individual market since 2021. Do not auto-renew this year.
1. Key Florida ACA dates for the 2027 plan year
| Window | Dates | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Renewal notices mailed | October 2026 | Read yours carefully — auto-renew is dangerous this year |
| Open Enrollment opens | November 1, 2026 | HealthCare.gov starts accepting 2027 plan selections |
| Enroll by this date for Jan 1 coverage | December 15, 2026 | The one deadline that matters in every scenario |
| Enroll Dec 16 – Jan 15 | Coverage starts Feb 1, 2027 | You'll be uninsured for January |
| Open Enrollment closes | January 15, 2027 | Currently the deadline; a federal appeal is pending |
2. The big change: enhanced subsidies are gone
From 2021 through 2025, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) — extended by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) — did two things that transformed the ACA Marketplace:
- It eliminated the 400% federal poverty level (FPL) cliff, capping premium contributions at 8.5% of household income even for higher earners.
- It increased subsidies for everyone under 400% FPL, driving many households' premiums to $0 or near-$0.
Both of those provisions expired at midnight on December 31, 2025. Congress has not extended them. The House passed a two-year extension in early 2026; the Senate has not moved a companion bill to the floor as of this writing. That means the pre-2021 rules govern 2026 coverage and, unless a bill is enacted before Open Enrollment closes, they also govern 2027.
What that means in practice
Under the pre-2021 rules, premium tax credits are only available up to 400% of the federal poverty level. Earn one dollar over the line for your household size and your subsidy drops to zero. Between 100% and 400% FPL, contribution percentages return to the older, less generous sliding scale. A single 40-year-old in Delray Beach earning $65,000 who used to pay $316/month with enhanced credits now pays close to the unsubsidized rate — often $500 or more, depending on plan.
3. Where the 400% FPL cliff lands for 2027 coverage
2027 subsidies use the 2026 federal poverty guidelines, which HHS typically publishes in late January. Based on the 2025 guidelines (used for 2026 coverage) and typical 3–5% year-over-year updates, the 400% FPL cliff for 2027 is projected to land approximately at:
| Household size | 2026 coverage (400% FPL) | Projected 2027 (400% FPL) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $62,600 | ~$64,000–$65,000 |
| 2 people | $84,600 | ~$86,000–$88,000 |
| 3 people | $106,600 | ~$109,000–$111,000 |
| 4 people | $128,600 | ~$131,000–$133,000 |
Treat the 2027 numbers as estimates until HHS finalizes the 2026 poverty guidelines. The principle does not change: cross your household's line and your premium tax credit becomes zero.
4. Florida premium increases for 2027
KFF's Health System Tracker analyzed 276 ACA Marketplace insurer filings across all 50 states and DC. The median proposed premium increase for 2027 is 15% — the largest single-year increase since the Marketplace launched. Insurers cite three factors: general medical inflation, changes to the risk pool as healthier enrollees leave when subsidies shrink, and the lasting effects of enhanced credit expiration on 2026 morbidity.
For Palm Beach County residents earning just over the 400% FPL cliff, the two-year cumulative increase is especially painful. KFF's example — a 40-year-old earning $65,000 in a comparable market — went from $316/month with enhanced credits, to $477/month in 2026, to a projected $546/month in 2027. That's a 41% increase in monthly premium payments over two years. Comparable Florida Blue, Aetna, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare filings in Palm Beach and Broward counties track close to that pattern.
Not sure where you land on the 400% cliff?
I'll run the projected 2027 subsidy math for your exact household size, ZIP, and expected income — including HSA, IRA, and retirement contribution strategies that can pull you back under the cliff if you're close. Free, no obligation. Most Palm Beach County clients hear back within 24 hours.
📞 Call (561) 560-88205. Your 60-day prep checklist (September 1 – November 1)
September: build your income projection
- Add up your 2026 year-to-date income from all sources: W-2 wages, 1099 income (net after business expenses), interest, dividends, capital gains, rental income, retirement distributions, Social Security (if applicable), and any expected bonuses through December.
- Project 2027 income the same way — realistically. Under-reporting triggers a subsidy clawback at tax time; over-reporting means you overpay all year.
- Identify your current MAGI cushion vs. the 400% FPL cliff for your household size. If you're within $5,000 of the line either way, small planning moves can shift you into or out of subsidy eligibility.
October: pull the levers that lower MAGI
- HSA contributions — if you had a qualifying high-deductible plan in 2026, you can still contribute for tax year 2026 until April 15, 2027 (2026 limits: $4,150 self-only, $8,300 family, +$1,000 catch-up at 55+). Every dollar contributed reduces MAGI.
- Traditional IRA — if eligible for a deduction, up to $7,000 ($8,000 at 50+) reduces MAGI dollar for dollar.
- Self-employment retirement plans — SEP-IRA and Solo 401(k) contributions for the self-employed can lower MAGI substantially. See our self-employed health insurance page for how the tax stacking works.
- Self-employed health insurance deduction — 100% of premiums for 1099 workers reduces MAGI. See 1099 contractor health insurance.
- Timing income — if you're close to the cliff, defer a year-end bonus, delay a Roth conversion, or hold off on selling appreciated assets until January.
Late October: verify doctors, drugs, and hospitals
- Make a list of every doctor, specialist, and hospital you actually use. In Palm Beach County that usually means your primary care physician, your specialists, and one of Bethesda, JFK, Wellington Regional, Palms West, Jupiter Medical, PBG Medical, Good Samaritan, or Boca Regional.
- List every prescription with exact strength and dose.
- Read our step-by-step guide to verifying your doctor is in-network before you enroll.
November 1 – December 15: shop, compare, enroll
- Do not auto-renew. Every plan is re-priced for 2027 under the post-subsidy market. The plan that was cheapest for you in 2026 is very unlikely to be cheapest in 2027.
- Compare total expected annual cost — not just monthly premium. Total = monthly premium × 12 + realistic out-of-pocket for your medications and expected visits.
- Enroll and pay the first premium by December 15 for a January 1 start.
6. Special situations to plan for now
Self-employed and 1099 households in Palm Beach County
The self-employed take the hardest hit from the subsidy cliff because their income can spike unexpectedly in Q4. Combining the self-employed health insurance deduction, SEP-IRA/Solo 401(k) contributions, and HSA funding can often keep a household under 400% FPL even at $150,000+ gross. See our self-employed page.
Small-business owners with 2–50 W-2 employees
If your employees are losing subsidies on the individual market, a small-group plan or an ICHRA may now beat individual coverage on a per-person basis. See small business health insurance.
Early retirees 55–64 bridging to Medicare
This group is the most exposed. Retirees living on portfolio income who used to sit comfortably at 350% FPL with enhanced credits may now be pushed over the cliff by required minimum distributions, Roth conversions, or capital gains. Careful year-by-year MAGI planning is the single highest-value move in this window. See our early retiree health insurance page.
Families earning $100K – $150K
Where you land on the cliff depends heavily on household size. A family of 4 at $130,000 is still under the projected 400% line for 2027; a family of 3 at $130,000 is over. See affordable family health insurance.
Between jobs or just lost coverage
Job loss triggers a 60-day Special Enrollment Period. See our Florida job-loss health insurance playbook and between-jobs coverage page.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 ACA Open Enrollment Period in Florida?
Florida uses HealthCare.gov. Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. To have coverage begin January 1, 2027, you must enroll and pay your first premium by December 15, 2026. Enrolling between December 16 and January 15 pushes your coverage start to February 1, 2027. A 2025 CMS rule that would have ended enrollment on December 15 was vacated by a federal court in June 2026 and is under appeal — but December 15 remains the practical deadline you should plan around.
Did the enhanced ACA subsidies expire?
Yes. The enhanced premium tax credits created by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and extended by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) expired on December 31, 2025. Beginning with 2026 coverage — and continuing into 2027 unless Congress passes an extension — the pre-2021 rules apply: subsidies are only available up to 400% of the federal poverty level, and the sliding-scale contribution percentages are less generous. The 400% FPL "subsidy cliff" is back.
What is the 400% FPL income limit for 2027 ACA subsidies in Florida?
2027 subsidies use the 2026 federal poverty guidelines. Final figures are set once HHS publishes the 2026 poverty guidelines, but the 400% FPL cliff for 2027 coverage is projected to land approximately at: $64,000–$65,000 for a household of 1, $86,000–$88,000 for a household of 2, $109,000–$111,000 for a household of 3, and $131,000–$133,000 for a household of 4. Earn one dollar over your household's line and you get zero premium tax credit for 2027 under current law.
How much are Florida ACA premiums going up for 2027?
A KFF analysis of 276 insurers across all 50 states and DC found a median proposed premium increase of 15% for 2027 — the largest single-year increase since the ACA launched. Florida carrier filings track close to that median. The 400% FPL cliff plus the base premium increase means many households earning $60,000–$150,000 will see two-year cumulative jumps of 40%+ if they lose subsidies entirely. This is why re-shopping — not auto-renewing — is essential for 2027.
What if I earn just over 400% of FPL and lose subsidies?
You have real options. First, we look for legitimate income adjustments before year-end: HSA contributions, traditional IRA contributions if eligible, deductible self-employment retirement contributions (SEP-IRA, Solo 401(k)), pre-tax health premiums for self-employed clients, and timing bonuses or Roth conversions. Second, we consider a Bronze HSA-eligible plan paired with maximum HSA funding — often the lowest-cost real option when subsidies are gone. Third, for small-business owners, we look at ICHRA and small-group alternatives. Fourth, for those approaching Medicare, we plan the bridge carefully. Call (561) 560-8820 and I'll run the math for your household.