What’s changing for ACA Marketplace plans in 2027?

We expect 2 major changes that could impact ACA members

  • Some people who were able to get a premium tax credit will no longer be eligible
  • Starting in 2027, you’ll need to have a qualifying life event to enroll during a Special Enrollment Period. This applies to everyone, including people with low income.

Read on for more details, as well as tips to help you get ready for the changes.

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Have questions about your plan?

For questions about your current UnitedHealthcare ACA Marketplace plan, call the number on the back of your health plan ID card to speak with a member service advocate.

Shopping for a plan?

Explore plan options, get estimates and enroll online. Or call one of our licensed insurance agents for 1-on-1 help at 1-800-557-6718, TTY 711.

Change #1: Some people are no longer eligible for a premium tax credit

Lawfully present immigrants who do not have a Green Card are no longer eligible for a premium tax credit toward ACA Marketplace plan premiums. In certain instances, some legally present immigrants may still qualify for a premium tax credit. But in many cases, you’ll no longer receive the premium tax credit you had in the past.

What this means to you

These changes to ACA plans may affect you if you’re an immigrant who:

  • Is in the U.S. on a work or student visa
  • Has Asylee or Refugee status

  • Is in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

If you're an immigrant who is in the U.S. lawfully but you don’t have a Green Card, you can still get a health plan through the ACA Marketplace.

What you should do

Make sure to look carefully at your ACA Marketplace plan options when choosing a plan. Your premiums will change if you no longer qualify for a premium tax credit.

Change #2. A Special Enrollment Period is only available to people with a qualifying life event

This change applies to everyone, including people with low income. In previous years, people with income below a certain level were able to get a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) and enroll in an ACA Marketplace plan any time of year. For 2027, you’ll no longer have access to a permanent SEP based on income. However, you may still enroll during an SEP if you have a qualifying life event. 

What this means to you 

Outside of qualified life-changing events, like getting married or changing jobs, you can only sign up for a 2027 ACA Marketplace plan during the open enrollment period. This runs November 1 to January 15, in most states.

What you should do 

Make sure to check your state’s open enrollment period dates to know your exact enrollment deadline. Remember, even if your income meant that you had flexibility in your plan enrollment deadline in previous years, that won’t be the case this year. There is no longer a Special Enrollment Period based on low-income status.

Frequently asked questions 

These decisions are being made by the federal government and not by any individual insurer. The decisions will impact all ACA insurers.

These decisions are being made at the federal level and will impact all ACA insurers, including UnitedHealthcare.

Unfortunately, getting sick doesn’t count as a qualifying life event. Without a special enrollment reason, you can’t get covered outside of open enrollment. However, in some states, the deadline might be a different date so be sure to double-check.

Yes. Even if your situation hasn’t changed, you still need to confirm your eligibility to verify if you qualify for a premium tax credit.

If the annual income amount you provide is notably different from the annual income noted by trusted data sources (like the IRS and wage databases), a Data Matching Issue (DMI) will be created. 

Once a DMI is created, here’s what happens next:

  • You’ll get a notification that you were issued a DMI. You’ll need to provide documents that verify your income and fix the discrepancy. This maintains your eligibility for a premium tax credit. 

  • At the end of the year, if your final income is different than what you predicted, the difference will be addressed when you file taxes. If your income was lower than expected, you’ll get additional premium tax credits. If your income was higher than expected, you’ll have to pay back the government for any overpayment you received.

  • If you don’t qualify for a premium tax credit but claim one anyway, you may be required to pay back the full premium tax credit. 

If you purchased your plan off the Exchange, only Change #2 applies to you. This is because Special Enrollment Periods for people with low income are no longer available. Change #1 does not apply.

Need help?
We're here for you

Have questions about your plan?

For questions about your current UnitedHealthcare ACA Marketplace plan, call the number on the back of your health plan ID card to speak with a member service advocate.

Shopping for a plan?

Explore plan options, get estimates and enroll online. Or call one of our licensed insurance agents for 1-on-1 help at 1-800-557-6718, TTY 711.