Newsletter

OPEN ENROLLMENT IS COMING — HERE'S HOW TO GET READY

Open Enrollment for 2027 Marketplace coverage begins November 1, with most states keeping a December 15 deadline for January 1 coverage. Now's the time to gather information — not to change anything yet.

Get these ready:

• Proof of income (pay stubs, tax return, or profit/loss statement). Subsidies are based on estimated 2027 income — not 2026. Using this year's number instead of next year's is one of the most common mistakes people make.

• Household changes — moves, marriage, a new baby, or a dependent turning 26 (Florida readers: see the note in Article 3).

• Current medications and providers, to check against next year's plan options.

• Any notices from your insurer or the Marketplace about changes for next year.

Don't edit your application yet. Changes made outside Open Enrollment, or without guidance, can cause problems like an incorrect subsidy or a coverage gap. Once you have your documents together, contact us — we'll review everything with you and make sure it's entered correctly and at the right time.

YOUR PREMIUM MAY BE HIGHER NEXT YEAR — HERE'S WHY

If your 2027 quote looks higher than expected, even with no change in income or household, two separate things are driving that.

1. Subsidies are smaller than they were during 2021–2025. Temporary, enhanced premium tax credits boosted subsidy amounts and expanded who qualified. Those enhancements expired December 31, 2025, and were not renewed. That change already hit your 2026 subsidy — so the right comparison now is 2026 vs. 2027, not 2025. If your income and household haven't changed, your 2027 subsidy should be close to your 2026 one; it will only move if your income, household size, or benchmark plan cost changes.

2. Plan prices themselves are rising. Per KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation)'s nationwide analysis of 2027 rate filings (published August 3, 2026, updating a July 8, 2026, release), insurers' median proposed increase is about 15%, varying by state, insurer, and plan. Drivers include rising medical costs, higher provider staffing costs, and a shift in the Marketplace risk pool as healthier enrollees left in 2026.

These two effects stack — a higher sticker price on top of a flatter subsidy — which is why your actual cost next year could look quite different from this year. Contact us and we'll go through your specific numbers before you're locked into a plan. 

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR PRESENT PLAN BEFORE THE YEAR ENDS

Deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums reset every January 1. If you're close to your deductible, now's the time to use it.

Before December 31, consider:



• Any follow-up appointments, imaging, or procedures your doctor has mentioned
• Specialist or physical therapy visits you've been putting off
• Preventive visits — usually no-cost, but confirm your plan only covers one per year

HSA holders: funds roll over indefinitely, so there's no year-end deadline — but check whether you're on track to hit your annual contribution limit. (Note: FSAs are an employer-plan feature and typically won't apply if you're on an individual Marketplace plan.)

Life events can open a Special Enrollment Period without waiting until December — marriage, divorce, a new child, losing other coverage, or a move to a new area.

Dependents aging off at 26: Federal rules end dependent coverage at 26. Florida may offer an extension to age 30 for some dependents, but the exact conditions (marital status, dependents of their own, other coverage) matter. If you have a dependent approaching twenty-six in Florida, contact us and we'll give guidance on checking your situation before you assume coverage ends. Generally, if your unmarried dependent child is under age 30 and is covered by a group plan written in Florida that dependent can remain in the group plan until age 30.

For any of the above, contact us before making changes — we'll confirm your options and the right timing.

About Paul Cholak

Paul has over forty years of benefits experience and has been Director of Employee Benefits for large companies, as well as a benefits consultant with major consulting firms. He understands the health and life insurance needs of individuals and families of all ages. He also has considerable experience in selling health and life insurance to employer groups.

He guides you through the steps of getting health and/or life insurance and is available to help you both BEFORE and AFTER you've made your purchase decision.