5 ACA Plan Changes for 2027 Every Michigan Shopper Should Know
If you buy your own health insurance, the plan you have today won't be the plan you get on January 1. The 2027 ACA plan changes are some of the biggest in years: higher prices, plans being discontinued, and a higher worst-case bill. Here's what's changing for Michigan shoppers, and what to do about each one before Open Enrollment closes on January 15.
First, the dates that matter in Michigan
Michigan uses HealthCare.gov. For 2027 coverage, Open Enrollment runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027.
- Enroll by December 15 and coverage starts January 1.
- Enroll December 16 – January 15 and coverage starts February 1.
Missing December 15 doesn't mean waiting a year. It means a one-month gap. After January 15, though, you generally need a qualifying life event to enroll.
Takeaway: Put December 15 on your calendar as your real deadline.
1. Premiums are going up, and your subsidy may not keep pace
Insurers are proposing a median premium increase of about 15% for 2027, according to KFF's August 2026 analysis of 276 insurers.
If you get a premium tax credit, your subsidy is tied to the benchmark Silver plan in your area. When the benchmark goes up, your subsidy usually goes up too. But your own plan's price may rise faster or slower than the benchmark, so your monthly bill can still change, sometimes a lot. If you don't get a subsidy, you absorb the full increase.
Takeaway: When your renewal notice arrives, compare your price after subsidy, not last year's bill.
2. Some plans are ending, and auto-renew may pick for you
Insurers are leaving the individual market in more than 20 states for 2027, and hundreds of thousands of plans end December 31. When your plan is discontinued, the Marketplace can move you into a similar plan automatically.
"Similar" isn't the same. A replacement plan can have a different network, a different drug list or a different deductible. Many people find out in January, at the pharmacy counter or the doctor's front desk.
Takeaway: Don't let auto-renew decide. Confirm your doctors, hospital and prescriptions are covered in the plan you'll have on January 1.
3. Your out-of-pocket maximum goes up to $12,000
For 2027, the most an individual can be required to pay out of pocket for in-network care rises to $12,000, up from $10,600 in 2026 (healthinsurance.org). That's the ceiling on deductibles, copays and coinsurance in a bad year.
A low monthly premium can hide a very high worst case. A plan that saves you $40 a month can cost you thousands more after one surgery or a hospital stay.
Takeaway: Compare three numbers on every plan: the premium, the deductible and the out-of-pocket max.
4. The subsidy cliff is back
The enhanced premium tax credits expired after 2025. That means the "subsidy cliff" is back for 2027: above 400% of the federal poverty level, there's no premium tax credit at all. For a single person, that cutoff is about $63,840 in projected 2027 income.
Your subsidy is based on what you expect to earn in 2027, not what you earned last year. If you're self-employed or your hours change, that estimate matters. Pre-tax retirement contributions and HSA contributions can lower the income that counts for the ACA.
Takeaway: Update your income estimate before you pick a plan. If you're close to the cliff, a small change can make a big difference.
5. Eligibility is narrowing for some people
Two groups should look early this year:
- Some lawfully present immigrants. Starting in 2027, subsidy eligibility is limited to lawful permanent residents, Cuban/Haitian entrants and COFA migrants. Refugees, asylees, TPS holders and many visa holders lose eligibility for financial help.
- People counting on a catastrophic plan. Catastrophic plans are again limited to people under 30 or those with a hardship exemption, and exemptions take time to process.
Takeaway: If either applies to you, price your full-cost options early so January doesn't bring a surprise.
Your before-January-15 checklist
- Open your renewal notice and note your new after-subsidy price.
- Check that your doctors and prescriptions are in the 2027 network.
- Compare the deductible and out-of-pocket max, not just the premium.
- Update your projected 2027 household income.
- Enroll by December 15 for a January 1 start.
Not sure what your renewal letter is telling you? See how to read your 2027 ACA renewal notice in 5 minutes.
You don't have to sort this out alone
These changes hit everyone who buys their own coverage, but they hit differently depending on your income, your doctors and your ZIP code. As a licensed Michigan agent, I compare plans from Blue Cross, Priority Health, Oscar, Ambetter and other carriers side by side, and Marketplace premiums are the same whether you enroll alone or with me. My help costs you nothing.
Read more about how I help on my ACA help page, or see common Open Enrollment questions.
2027 figures are from public sources as of October 2026 and may change. This site is not the Health Insurance Marketplace® website and is not affiliated with HealthCare.gov.