Health Insurance Questions, Answered Straight

Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15, 2026 for coverage starting January 1, 2027. If you enroll between December 16 and January 15, coverage typically starts February 1.

Outside Open Enrollment, you generally can’t enroll unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. That’s triggered by life events like losing job-based coverage, moving to a new area, getting married or divorced, or having a baby. You usually get 60 days from the event to enroll.

It depends on your age, where you live, which tier you pick, and your household income. The part most people underestimate: federal premium tax credits can lower monthly premiums substantially for qualifying households. The only way to know your real number is to run a quote with your actual information — which is exactly what I do.

Premium tax credits are federal subsidies that reduce what you pay each month for a Marketplace plan. Eligibility and the amount are based on household income and size. You can take the credit in advance (lowering your monthly bill right away) or claim it when you file taxes.

The metal tiers describe cost-sharing, not quality of care. Bronze plans typically have lower monthly premiums but you pay more when you get care. Gold flips that — higher premium, lower costs at the doctor. Silver sits in the middle, and it’s the only tier where qualifying enrollees can get cost-sharing reductions that shrink deductibles and copays.

Maybe — it depends on whether your doctor is in the plan’s network. This is the #1 thing to verify before enrolling, and it’s where I earn my keep: I check your doctors, specialists, and preferred hospitals against any plan you’re considering, before you commit.

Nothing out of your pocket. Licensed brokers are paid a commission by the insurance company when you enroll. Your plan costs exactly the same whether you use me or enroll on your own — the difference is you get personal guidance for free.

The Marketplace website will show you plans, but it won’t advise you. I help you compare networks, drug formularies, and true total costs side by side, explain the fine print in plain English, and — the part people value most — I’m still here after enrollment when a bill looks wrong or your life changes.

Absolutely — the Marketplace is built for people who buy their own coverage: freelancers, contractors, gig workers, and small business owners. Your estimated net self-employment income for the coverage year is what determines tax credit eligibility, so we’ll estimate it carefully together.

Losing job-based coverage is a qualifying life event, which opens a 60-day Special Enrollment Period — you don’t wait for Open Enrollment. And before you pay for COBRA, compare: Marketplace plans are usually far more affordable than continuing your employer plan on your own dime.

Yes. Under current federal law, Marketplace plans cannot deny you coverage or charge you more because of a pre-existing condition. They also must cover essential health benefits, including preventive care, prescription drugs, emergency services, and hospitalization.

For everyone enrolling: names, birthdates, Social Security numbers, your estimated household income for the coverage year, and details of any current coverage. It sounds like a lot, but I walk you through the application step by step — most people are done in one sitting.