Catastrophic Plans: The 2027 Changes
Longer terms, wider hardship access — and the same need for honest expectations.
Catastrophic plans get a longer runway for 2027: they can span up to 10 consecutive years, and hardship-exemption access expands for lower-income individuals whose income moves them out of credit or cost-sharing help.
Who This Helps
- Adults 30+ who qualify for a hardship exemption when projected income falls below 100% or above 250% of FPL and knocks them out of enhanced help.
- Younger, healthier clients who want the lowest premium with real protection against the worst-case bill.
How To Position It
- Catastrophic is a floor, not a strategy — pair the conversation with fixed-benefit supplemental coverage where it fits, and say clearly what it doesn’t cover day-to-day.
- Remember routine adult dental is no longer countable as an essential health benefit benchmark item starting 2027 — standalone dental conversations matter more, not less.
Questions about the 2027 rules?
Step 1: run the 60-second subsidy calculator first — see your likely lane, then come back and enroll.
I’m Christopher Horne, a licensed broker in FL, TX, AZ, OH, MI, IA, NC, OK, MO, SC, and TN. Agents: text me and compare notes before Open Enrollment. Clients: enroll through my link and I’m still your agent of record — and I review every enrollment the same day.
Enroll Online →Or book a free call / text 954-787-9118. Rules summarized here are general guidance, not legal advice — always confirm in official CMS and carrier sources.