Health insurance premium went up again?

Don’t let it renew on autopilot

On HealthCare.gov, open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Pick a plan by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1. States that run their own marketplace set their own dates, so check yours. Compare every plan level, including Bronze, and finish the application to see whether you qualify for help paying the premium. Trained helpers will walk you through it for free. On Medicare? Your window to change plans is October 15 to December 7 (more on Medicare).

Check the better options people miss

Not every one fits every family, but each is worth a look before you renew:

• Bronze and catastrophic plans now work with an HSA. Since January 2026 you can pair one of these lower-premium plans with a health savings account and put money aside tax-free for the deductible.
• Catastrophic plans aren’t only for people under 30 anymore. If your income means you don’t qualify for help paying premiums, you may get a hardship exemption that opens them to you. HealthCare.gov checks this when you apply.
• Silver can beat Bronze. If your income qualifies you for cost-sharing reductions, a Silver plan lowers your deductible and copays, often below a Bronze plan’s.
• A direct primary care doctor plus an HSA. Since 2026, a flat monthly membership with a primary care practice (up to $150 a month for one person or $300 for a family in 2027) no longer stops you from putting money in an HSA, and you can pay the fee from it.
• Coverage for the kids. Children can qualify for CHIP even when the family earns too much for Medicaid. Income limits vary by state, from about 170% up to 400% of the poverty level.
• Run a small business with employees? A QSEHRA lets the business repay employees’ individual premiums tax-free, up to $6,450 for one person or $13,100 for a family in 2026.
• Compare a spouse’s job plan side by side with your Marketplace options before you pick.

Know the catch in the “cheap fixes”

Health care sharing ministries aren’t insurance. Members chip in voluntarily, and the ministry has no legal duty to pay your bills or to cover conditions you already have. Short-term plans fall outside the Affordable Care Act’s protections and can turn down people with pre-existing conditions. A health savings account (HSA) only works with an HSA-eligible high-deductible plan, and for 2027 you can put in up to $4,500 for yourself or $9,000 for a family.

Self-employed? Ask about the deduction

You may be able to deduct your health insurance premiums, including your spouse’s and dependents’, for the months you weren’t eligible for a subsidized plan through your own job, your spouse’s or a dependent’s. The IRS form is 7206. A tax professional can tell you how it works out for you.

Insured through work? See the real price

Look at box 12 of your W-2 for code DD. It shows the total cost of your health coverage, the part you paid and the part your employer paid. It isn’t taxed. Employers that file fewer than 250 W-2s don’t have to show it.