California Health Plan Enrollment Opens for 2027
Californians who buy their own health insurance can use the annual enrollment period to choose a plan for 2027. They can sign up for coverage, renew their current plan, or compare it with other choices. The enrollment period begins in the fall and continues through January. People who want coverage for the full year should choose a plan by the end of December.
Who Can Use the Program?
The state health insurance marketplace is for people who need to purchase their own health coverage and cannot get it through an employer. That may include people who work part time, run their own businesses, or earn money through gig work.
During enrollment, people can review the plans available to them and decide whether their current coverage still fits. A plan that worked well before may not be the best choice now. Costs, covered services, doctors, and hospitals can change, and a person’s health or work situation may also be different.
Review Your Coverage Before Renewing
Health insurance shoppers are encouraged to look closely at the details before keeping the same plan. Check whether the monthly cost, copay, or deductible has changed. Also consider whether a new plan option is available through work, either for you or your spouse.
It is worth checking that your doctors and other care providers are still included in a plan’s network. Hospitals and providers may join or leave networks, which can affect where you can receive care at the in-network rate. A plan’s provider list can help you see whether your current care team is still covered.
Rather than renewing automatically, compare the available choices with the needs of your household. Think about how often family members use medical care, which providers they see, and what costs they could face. The goal is to choose coverage that fits your health care needs and budget.
Ways to Enroll
People can apply for coverage, renew a plan, or shop for a different option through the state marketplace website. They can also get help from one of the state’s 16,000 certified enrollment counselors or insurance agents.
Enrollment stays open into January, but the deadline for selecting a plan that covers the entire year comes earlier. Consumers need to make their choice by the end of December to have coverage for all of 2027.
Financial Help for Many Californians
An expanded state subsidy program is expected to help many people pay for coverage in 2027. More than 500,000 Californians are projected to receive a state subsidy, equal to about 30% of all marketplace enrollees.
Some shoppers will have access to Silver-tier plans with no monthly premium. Nearly 200,000 people may be able to choose between two such plans. Another 200,000 people are expected to qualify for financial help even though they did not qualify the year before.
- More than 500,000 people are projected to receive state subsidies.
- Nearly 200,000 may be able to choose between two Silver plans with a $0 premium.
- An additional 200,000 may qualify for help after not qualifying in 2026.
- The expanded assistance is expected to keep about 90,000 people from dropping coverage in 2027.
Compare Plans and Watch the Deadlines
More than 1.7 million people are enrolled in the state marketplace. Over 160,000 live in the Sacramento, Stockton, and Modesto areas. The expanded financial help may make coverage possible for people who could not afford a plan before, while giving current enrollees more options to consider.
Shoppers should compare plan costs, benefits, and provider networks before making a decision. They can renew their current coverage or select a different plan during the enrollment period. To stay insured throughout 2027, they need to complete their selection by the end of December, even though the overall enrollment window remains open until January ends.