ACA Open Enrollment 2027 Brings Premium Hikes and New Identity Checks
Open enrollment for 2027 ACA plans starts Nov. 1, with higher premiums, tighter fraud safeguards and new limits on immigrant subsidies.
When Open Enrollment Begins
Open enrollment for 2027 Affordable Care Act plans opens on Nov. 1 in most states, with Idaho, Connecticut and Massachusetts starting earlier. Some states continue to allow “window shopping” so shoppers can compare premium rates before committing.
Premium Increases and Subsidy Changes
Consumers can expect higher monthly premiums this year. In addition, new limits will apply to which immigrants qualify for subsidies, narrowing eligibility compared with previous years.
Why Enrollment May Drop
Experts predict a continued decline in overall enrollment because the enhanced subsidies that lifted coverage numbers expired at the end of 2025. The administration highlights a recent cancellation of policies for 760,000 enrollees it said were improperly signed up, calling the drop a sign of successful fraud reduction.
New Verification Steps for Broker‑Assisted Shoppers
New rules from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services target consumers who use agents or brokers on the federal marketplace, which serves 29 states. State‑based exchanges are not subject to these requirements.
All broker‑assisted shoppers must receive a one‑time confirmation code or link—sent by text, email or automated phone call—from the private enrollment platform their agent uses. The code authorizes that specific agent to enroll the consumer or make changes.
Consumers with outdated contact information must first call the federal marketplace or submit an online application to update their details before they can receive the code.
High‑Risk Designation and Extra Identity Proofing
CMS labels certain applicants as “high‑risk,” including first‑time applicants, those changing states, shoppers working with a new agent, or anyone with a monthly premium of $30 or less. These groups must verify their identity before an agent can act on their behalf.
Verification is done through a CMS‑approved third party such as Experian, which asks questions only the applicant should know. Those who fail may be directed to call Experian’s help desk or create a healthcare.gov account and upload identification like a driver’s license, passport, immigration papers or another form of ID.
Joshua Brooker, who runs an insurance agency in Pennsylvania, said the $30 cutoff likely reflects concerns that low‑premium plans are attractive to rogue agents who might enroll consumers without billing them, sometimes even paying the premium themselves to collect commissions.
Brooker warned that up to one‑in‑five consumers could face these extra steps and might abandon the process altogether.
Stacey Pogue, a senior research fellow at Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms, noted that some people may struggle with verification not because they are fraudulent, but because they lack a credit file, have moved, or have changed names.
What This Means for Shoppers
Consumers using brokers should be prepared for a potentially slower enrollment experience due to the new confirmation code and identity checks. Those purchasing plans directly online will follow the standard healthcare.gov process.
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