Kaiser Open Enrollment 2027: Dates by Plan and State

Medically reviewed by Jawad Arshad, MD, FACEP. Last reviewed: October 5, 2026.

Kaiser open enrollment for 2027 depends on how you get your Kaiser plan. An individual or family plan, a Medicare plan and a job-based plan each have a different window, and picking the wrong one is how people miss coverage.

Key facts

• HealthCare.gov open enrollment runs November 1 to January 15, and plans chosen by December 15 start January 1 (HealthCare.gov, 2026).
• Plans chosen from December 16 to January 15 start February 1 (HealthCare.gov, 2026).
• Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment runs January 1 to March 31 (Medicare.gov, 2026).
• You generally have 60 days to enroll after a qualifying life event such as losing job-based coverage (HealthCare.gov, 2026).
• CMS finalized a shorter federal window ending December 15 in its 2025 Marketplace Integrity and Affordability rule (CMS, June 20, 2025).
• A federal court in Maryland vacated that shorter window on June 12, 2026, according to Bradford Informed Guidance (2026).

When is Kaiser open enrollment 2027?

Kaiser open enrollment for 2027 individual and family plans runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. Enroll by December 15, 2026 so coverage starts January 1, 2027. Some state exchanges set different end dates, and Medicare and employer plans follow their own calendars.

Kaiser Permanente sells individual and family plans in a limited set of states. Its own marketplace page (2026) lists California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, Virginia, Washington and Washington, D.C. If you live outside those states, Kaiser individual plans are not available to you. Our guide to open enrollment for 2027 covers every marketplace in one place.

When does open enrollment start for 2027?

Open enrollment for 2027 coverage starts November 1, 2026 on HealthCare.gov and on every Kaiser Permanente state marketplace listed on Kaiser's page.

HealthCare.gov (2026) says November 1 is the first day you can enroll in, renew or change a plan for the coming year. If you already have a Kaiser plan, check your renewal notice first. A plan that renews on its own can still change its price and benefits on January 1. Our 2027 premium increases by state report shows how much prices are moving.

What are the Kaiser open enrollment dates by state?

Kaiser Permanente lists a different end date for several states. Here are the dates as Kaiser shows them on its individual marketplace updates page (Kaiser Permanente, 2026).

Table: Kaiser Permanente individual plan open enrollment by state, as listed by Kaiser (2026)

These dates can change. A federal court in Maryland vacated the shorter federal window in June 2026 and an appeals court is set to hear the case on October 30, 2026, according to Bradford Informed Guidance (2026). Confirm your date on your state exchange before you rely on a deadline. California members can also read about Covered California 2026 premium increases.

When is Kaiser Medicare open enrollment?

Kaiser Medicare open enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7, the same as all Medicare Open Enrollment. Medicare.gov (2026) gives those dates.

During that window you can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment, January 1 to March 31, is a second, narrower chance for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan (Medicare.gov, 2026). Individual and family ACA dates do not apply to Medicare plans.

When is Kaiser open enrollment through an employer?

Open enrollment for a job-based Kaiser plan is set by your employer, not by Kaiser or the marketplace. Many employers hold theirs in the fall so changes start January 1.

Ask HR for three things: the first and last day of the window, whether you must re-enroll or your plan renews on its own, and whether your pay stub shows a pre-tax Section 125 deduction for premiums. Our open enrollment guide for employers shows what employers do on their side.

What changes for Kaiser plans in 2027?

Two changes matter most for 2027 Kaiser marketplace plans. Eligibility for subsidies narrows for some immigrants, and Bronze and Catastrophic marketplace plans become eligible for a health savings account.

Kaiser's marketplace updates page (2026) says only specific groups, including lawful permanent residents, will qualify for premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions under the new rules. It also says recent federal legislation lets all Bronze and Catastrophic plans bought through the ACA Marketplace be treated as HSA eligible. Subsidy amounts may also change with your income and state funding, so update your income estimate before you renew.

What if I miss Kaiser open enrollment?

If you miss open enrollment, you can generally still enroll within 60 days of a qualifying life event, such as losing job-based coverage, moving or having a baby (HealthCare.gov, 2026).

Without a qualifying event, you wait for the next open enrollment. Here is a worked example of what a late sign-up costs on HealthCare.gov dates, using the start dates HealthCare.gov (2026) publishes:

Table: Coverage start date by sign-up date, HealthCare.gov 2027 plans

A person who signs up on December 20 has no coverage from January 1 through January 31, which is 31 days. Any care in that stretch is paid out of pocket unless another plan applies. Our guide to the special enrollment period lists the events that reopen enrollment, and our COBRA alternatives guide covers people who lost employer coverage.

What if Kaiser is not sold where I live?

If Kaiser Permanente does not sell individual plans in your state, you choose from the other carriers on your state's marketplace, or you look at a healthcare membership as a different kind of option.

The membership is not a substitute for ACA marketplace coverage if you need subsidies or a plan that meets federal coverage rules. Many people compare both before they decide. Our best health share plans guide explains the differences.

What should I do before open enrollment ends?

Do five things in order, starting with your income estimate. Each takes a few minutes.

1. Update your household income for 2027 so your subsidy is right.
2. Look up your doctors in the plan's network before you pick it.
3. Compare total cost, meaning the premium plus the deductible and out-of-pocket maximum, not the premium alone.
4. Write down the deadline for your state from the table above.
5. Choose a plan by December 15 if you want coverage to start January 1.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources: HealthCare.gov, Dates and deadlines and Special Enrollment Period pages (2026); Kaiser Permanente, Individual marketplace updates page (2026); Medicare.gov, Medicare enrollment periods (2026); CMS, press release on the Marketplace Integrity and Affordability final rule (June 20, 2025); Bradford Informed Guidance, Open enrollment 2027 courts, dates and appeals (2026); Summit Health Benefits, WoW Health Comprehensive Membership page (2026).