Californians who buy their own health insurance can start shopping for 2027 coverage now. Covered California's open enrollment opened Sunday and runs through Jan. 31, but anyone who wants a plan in force on Jan. 1 has to pick one by Dec. 31, the state marketplace says.
Twelve insurers are selling plans on the exchange next year, one of them new to California. About 1.7 million people are enrolled through Covered California now.
More state help, less federal help
The biggest change for 2027 is on the subsidy side. Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature raised the state's own premium assistance from $190 million this year to $300 million next year. Covered California says that money will reach households earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level, which works out to $31,920 for a single person or $66,000 for a family of four.
The agency projects more than 500,000 enrollees, roughly 30% of the total, will get a state subsidy. It says about 200,000 people who did not qualify for help this year will qualify in 2027, and nearly 200,000 will be able to choose between two Silver plans with no monthly premium.
Taken together with federal tax credits, the agency expects 55% of enrollees to see no increase in what they pay each month.
The state funding does not fill the hole left in Washington. Covered California says Californians collected nearly $2.5 billion a year in federal aid before Congress allowed the enhanced premium tax credits to expire last year, and the new state money cannot make up for that.
The agency also points to federal rule changes for 2026 and 2027, including updates to the public charge rule and new limits on which lawfully present immigrants can get marketplace financial help. Covered California says most immigrants are not affected and that it is working to help people sort out their eligibility.
