2027 Health Insurance Open Enrollment Underway: Dec. 15 Deadline for Jan. 1 Coverage, Free Help in Mobile County

MOBILE, Ala. — Open enrollment for 2027 health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace began Nov. 1, and Family Health says its Certified Application Counselors are available at every location in Mobile County to help people sign up for free.

Key dates

• Nov. 1, 2026: Open enrollment begins in most states.
• Dec. 15, 2026: Last day to enroll for coverage that starts Jan. 1, 2027.
• Jan. 15, 2027: Final deadline to enroll for coverage that starts Feb. 1, 2027.

HealthCare.gov lists the same dates. After Jan. 15, people can generally change or begin coverage only if they qualify for a special enrollment period.

Free local help

Certified Application Counselors help consumers look at options through the Health Insurance Exchange, whether they need new coverage, want to renew a plan or want to make changes. The assistance is free. The Mobile County Health Department’s Family Health program lists clinics at addresses including 251 N. Bayou St. and 248 Cox St. in Mobile, 4009 Saint Stephens Road, 5580 Inn Road, 2601 Dauphin Island Parkway, Suite 40, and in Citronelle and Mount Vernon. Check with a center before visiting to confirm counselor hours.

What is different this year

People shopping for 2027 coverage are doing so after the enhanced federal premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025. KFF reports that marketplace plan selections fell by 1.2 million nationally during the 2026 open enrollment period, and that effectuated enrollment, meaning people who paid their premiums, was down 12 percent by February 2026. A Health System Tracker analysis of insurers’ filings found a median proposed premium increase of about 15 percent for 2027, though final rates vary by insurer and state. Consumers who are renewing should review their plan details and cost estimates, since prices and subsidy amounts can change from year to year.