Sign up by Dec. 15 for Jan. 1 coverage as Alabama premiums rise and expanded subsidies remain expired
SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
If you buy your own health insurance, the clock is ticking.
Open enrollment for 2027 Marketplace coverage runs Nov. 1, 2026, through Jan. 15, 2027. To have coverage start Jan. 1, you must enroll by Dec. 15, according to healthinsurance.org.
More than 455,000 Alabamians enrolled in Marketplace plans for 2026, according to federal data cited by the site. All four insurers that sold plans in Alabama this year will offer coverage again in 2027: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, UnitedHealthcare, Ambetter (Celtic) and Oscar.
Premiums before subsidies are going up. Proposed 2027 rate changes filed with the Alabama Department of Insurance range from about 11% for Ambetter to nearly 34% for Oscar, with Blue Cross at about 20%.
Subsidies are smaller, too. Enhanced federal premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025. Households earning more than 400% of the federal poverty level no longer qualify for help, and those below that line receive less than they did before.
That makes shopping around more important than ever. Here’s what to do:
Update your income on HealthCare.gov, because your subsidy depends on it.
Compare plans, even if you’re happy with your current one. Rates and networks change every year.
Check that your doctors and prescriptions are covered.
Get free, unbiased help. Trained assisters can walk you through your options at no charge. Search for local help at HealthCare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596.
Missing the deadline usually means waiting a full year unless you have a qualifying life event, such as losing other coverage, moving or having a baby.