ACA 2027 Renewal and Subsidy Shopping Worksheet
Use this ACA 2027 renewal and subsidy shopping worksheet to organize income, household changes, and plan details before Open Enrollment begins on November 1st.
Renewing ACA Marketplace coverage is not simply a matter of letting your current plan continue. Each year, premiums, plan documents, provider networks, prescription formularies, household income, and eligibility information may change.
This worksheet is designed to help you organize your information before you review 2027 coverage. It does not predict your premium, determine your eligibility for financial assistance, or tell you which plan to choose. Instead, it gives you a practical list of documents, dates, and questions to prepare for the official Marketplace or a licensed local insurance professional.
For HealthCare.gov states, Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from November 1, 2026, through January 15, 2027. The deadline for coverage beginning January 1, 2027, is December 15, 2026. People who enroll or change plans later in the window may have a February 1, 2027 effective date.
Always confirm the rules that apply to your state. Some state-based Marketplaces use different deadlines.
Important: eMavio is not a licensed insurance agent, broker, insurance company, Marketplace, or government agency. eMavio is a lead-generation platform and directory that helps consumers research their options and connect with independent, state-licensed professionals. eMavio does not provide insurance advice, make recommendations, compare plans, determine subsidy eligibility, or enroll consumers.
2027 ACA Open Enrollment dates to place on your calendar
Use the following dates as a starting point for HealthCare.gov states. The official HealthCare.gov dates and deadlines page should be your primary reference for federal Marketplace timing.
HealthCare.gov state deadline checklist
November 1, 2026: Open Enrollment begins for 2027 Marketplace coverage.
December 15, 2026: Deadline for enrolling or changing plans for a January 1, 2027 coverage start.
January 1, 2027: Coverage may begin for people who meet the December 15 deadline and complete any required payment steps.
January 15, 2027: Open Enrollment ends in HealthCare.gov states.
February 1, 2027: Coverage may begin for people who enroll or change plans after December 15 and by January 15, subject to Marketplace requirements.
State-based Marketplace deadlines may differ
Some states have later enrollment deadlines. Examples include:
California, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York: January 31
Massachusetts: January 23
Virginia: January 29
Rhode Island: December 31
Idaho: December 15
These examples are not a substitute for checking your state’s current official information. Before relying on a deadline, confirm whether your state uses HealthCare.gov or its own Marketplace and verify the effective-date rules directly.
Worksheet section 1: Gather your current plan documents
Start with the documents connected to your existing coverage. Your renewal notice may explain changes, but it should not be the only document you review.
Create a folder: digital or paper: for the following:
Current plan renewal notice
Current Summary of Benefits and Coverage, often called an SBC
Current provider directory
Current prescription drug formulary
Recent premium notices or billing statements
Official Marketplace notices
Any letters about eligibility, verification, or requested documents
Login information for your official Marketplace account, stored securely
Your SBC is useful for reviewing covered services, cost-sharing terms, and limitations in a standardized format. The provider directory can help you check whether doctors, hospitals, clinics, and other facilities are listed. The formulary can help you identify how your prescriptions are categorized by the plan.
Directories and formularies can change. Treat them as documents to review, not permanent guarantees. You may also want to contact your provider’s office and pharmacy directly to confirm whether they currently accept the plan or participate in its network.
If you need a general refresher on the types of information to review, the eMavio article How to choose health insurance when premiums rise may help you create a broader research checklist. eMavio does not make plan recommendations through that article or any other page.
Worksheet section 2: Record household changes for 2027
Marketplace applications generally depend on household information and projected annual income. That means changes during the year can matter when you review or update an application.
Write down any changes that have occurred or are expected before or during 2027:
Marriage or divorce
Birth, adoption, or addition of a dependent
A dependent aging out of coverage
A change in tax filing household
Moving to a new state, county, or ZIP code
Starting or ending employer-sponsored coverage
Starting self-employment or contract work
Retirement or a change in retirement income
Changes in Social Security or other household income
A change in immigration or eligibility documentation
A planned move during the coverage year
For each change, record the date it occurred or is expected to occur. Keep supporting documents together. Depending on the situation, documentation could include a marriage certificate, divorce decree, birth record, proof of loss of coverage, relocation information, or other official records.
Do not assume that a change automatically creates a Special Enrollment Period. The official Marketplace or a licensed professional can explain what documentation may be required and whether a particular situation qualifies.
Worksheet section 3: Estimate projected household MAGI
One of the most important preparation tasks is creating a reasonable estimate of household income for the coverage year.
Marketplace financial assistance may be connected to projected household income. A useful worksheet should include income from all applicable members of the tax household, rather than focusing only on one paycheck or one month.
Record the income sources that may apply:
Wages and salary
Bonuses and commissions
Self-employment or freelance income
Contract or gig income
Unemployment income
Interest and dividends
Capital gains
Retirement distributions
Social Security income
Rental or business income
Other taxable income
If your income changes from month to month, record your estimate by month and then calculate an annual projection. You may also want to compare the projection with recent pay stubs, tax documents, business records, or retirement statements.
The term MAGI, or modified adjusted gross income, can be used in discussions about Marketplace financial assistance. However, the exact calculation and eligibility result depend on the applicable rules and your circumstances. This worksheet is for organization only. It is not personalized tax advice.
For educational background on income changes and the 400% FPL subsidy cliff, review ACA subsidies and income planning information from eMavio. The 400% FPL explanation is educational and should not be treated as an eligibility determination.
Be careful with income changes near a threshold
A raise, bonus, additional contract work, investment income, retirement distribution, or change in household size may affect an application. No article can tell you what your final premium tax credit or cost will be.
Write down questions instead of guessing:
What income should be included in my projected household amount?
How should variable self-employment income be documented?
What should I do if my income changes after enrollment?
When should I update the official Marketplace application?
What records should I keep for tax filing and reconciliation?
Take these questions to the official Marketplace or a licensed local insurance professional.
Worksheet section 4: Review the 2027 renewal notice carefully
When the renewal notice arrives, do not focus only on the monthly premium. Create a side-by-side record of the information in the notice and the current plan documents.
Premium review
Record:
Current monthly premium
Proposed 2027 monthly premium
Whether the notice discusses financial assistance
Whether the plan is continuing, changing, or ending
Whether the plan identification information has changed
Any instructions to take action before a stated deadline
KFF’s analysis of 2027 Marketplace filings reports an approximately 15% median proposed premium increase. This is a preliminary analysis of proposed filings, not a guaranteed final increase for every plan, state, household, or consumer. Your final amount may differ, and this figure should not be used to predict your personal premium or subsidy.
Do not assume that a proposed increase will automatically produce the same change in your monthly payment. A final amount can depend on multiple factors, including household information, projected income, location, plan availability, and any applicable financial assistance. Read the KFF analysis of proposed 2027 ACA Marketplace premium increases for the broader national context.
Deductible and out-of-pocket review
Record the amounts shown in the official plan materials:
Individual deductible
Family deductible
In-network out-of-pocket maximum
Primary care visit cost
Specialist visit cost
Urgent care cost
Emergency care cost
Hospital services cost
Prescription costs
Mental health and therapy cost-sharing
Diagnostic testing and imaging cost-sharing
Avoid looking at the premium in isolation. A plan with a lower monthly premium may have different deductibles or cost-sharing. A plan with a higher premium may also have different cost exposure. The purpose of this worksheet is to help you collect the information so you can ask informed questions: not to direct you toward a particular plan.
Worksheet section 5: Check providers, hospitals, and prescriptions
A provider directory and formulary deserve their own review because network and drug coverage details may affect your household’s experience during the year.
Provider checklist
For each person who needs coverage, record:
Primary care provider
Specialists
Preferred hospital
Urgent care location
Laboratory or imaging facility
Mental health provider
Physical therapist or other recurring provider
Pediatrician or children’s hospital, if applicable
Then check each provider in the official directory for the plan year you are considering. Ask the provider’s office to verify participation as well, because directory information may not reflect every recent change.
Prescription checklist
For each medication, record:
Medication name
Dosage
Brand or generic status
Preferred pharmacy
Whether prior authorization may apply
Whether step therapy may apply
Whether quantity limits may apply
Estimated cost category shown in the formulary
Do not rely on memory. Bring the exact medication name and dosage when discussing coverage with a licensed professional or the official Marketplace.
Worksheet section 6: Identify Special Enrollment Period documents
Open Enrollment is not the only time people may be able to apply or change coverage, but a qualifying event and documentation may be required.
If you are applying based on a life event, create a documentation checklist:
Date of the qualifying event
Type of event
Previous coverage information
Notice showing loss of coverage, if applicable
Proof of relocation, if applicable
Marriage or divorce documentation
Birth, adoption, or placement documentation
Employer coverage information
Any verification request from the official Marketplace
Do not upload documents to unfamiliar websites. Use the official Marketplace account or follow instructions from a licensed professional after confirming who is requesting the information.
A Special Enrollment Period may have its own timing rules. If you are unsure, ask the official Marketplace about the event and the deadline before assuming you can enroll.
Worksheet section 7: Understand January 1 versus February 1 timing
Effective-date timing is one of the easiest details to overlook.
For HealthCare.gov states:
Enrolling or changing coverage by December 15, 2026 is the key deadline for a January 1, 2027 start.
Enrolling or changing coverage between December 16, 2026, and January 15, 2027 generally points to a February 1, 2027 start.
You should confirm any required payment, verification, or account steps with the official Marketplace or licensed professional.
Write down the date you submit an application, the date you select or change coverage, and the effective date shown in your official confirmation. Save confirmation numbers and notices.
If coverage timing is important because of a prescription, scheduled appointment, employment change, or other personal circumstance, ask about the effective date before completing your selection.
Questions to take to a licensed local agency or official Marketplace
Bring this list to your appointment or official Marketplace session:
What information should be included in my projected household income?
How should I document variable or self-employment income?
What household members should be included on the application?
Does my household change require an update or supporting document?
Does my situation qualify for a Special Enrollment Period?
What is the deadline for the effective date I need?
Is my preferred doctor listed in the current provider directory?
Is my preferred hospital included?
Are my prescriptions listed in the formulary?
Do prior authorization, quantity limits, or step therapy apply?
What are the deductible and out-of-pocket maximum?
How are specialist visits, urgent care, hospital care, and prescriptions handled?
What should I do if my income changes after enrollment?
What notices should I save for my records?
What steps remain before coverage becomes active?
The official Marketplace can provide information about your application and eligibility process. A licensed local insurance professional may also answer questions within the scope of their license and state authorization.
How eMavio fits into your research
eMavio is a health insurance lead-generation platform and directory. We are not a Marketplace or enrollment provider, and we do not enroll consumers in health insurance plans.
You can use the eMavio website to perform your own research and select whether to connect with a local health insurance agency from our directory. If you want to submit your information for contact by an independent, state-licensed professional, use the eMavio quote page.
Before submitting information, review the disclosures and understand that a licensed professional: not eMavio: will be responsible for any insurance information, eligibility discussion, plan comparison, recommendation, or enrollment assistance provided after contact.
Final ACA 2027 renewal checklist
Before the applicable deadline, confirm that you have:
Reviewed your official renewal notice
Saved your SBC
Checked the provider directory
Checked the prescription formulary
Listed household changes
Prepared a projected annual income estimate
Gathered Special Enrollment Period documents, if applicable
Reviewed premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums
Confirmed the January 1 or February 1 effective-date timing
Verified your state’s enrollment deadline
Written down questions for the official Marketplace or a licensed local agency
Saved application confirmations and official notices
Starting early gives you more time to locate documents, verify information, and ask questions. It does not guarantee a particular premium, subsidy, plan availability, or coverage outcome. Those results depend on official determinations and your individual circumstances.
eMavio disclaimer
eMavio is a marketing and lead-generation platform. We are not an insurance company, agent, broker, government agency, or Marketplace enrollment provider, and we do not sell insurance, provide insurance advice, provide quotes, determine plan eligibility, compare plans, make coverage recommendations, or enroll consumers. All insurance information, plan comparisons, recommendations, and enrollment assistance are provided by independent, state-licensed insurance agents or brokers, or by the official Marketplace, as applicable.
eMavio is not affiliated with or endorsed by any insurance carrier, the U.S. government, the federal Medicare program, Medicaid, the Health Insurance Marketplace, or HealthCare.gov. Plan availability, benefits, provider networks, pricing, licensing, and premium tax-credit eligibility vary by state, ZIP code, household size, income, and personal circumstances. Any savings or pricing information is not a guarantee of your experience or of any specific plan or price. Always verify information with the official Marketplace or a licensed professional authorized in your state.
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