Health Insurance Costs More in 2027. How to Budget for It
See your own safe-to-spend number Free paycheck budget, set up in 60 seconds →Health insurance costs more in 2027, and open enrollment is when you lock in the price. Marketplace insurers proposed a median 15% increase, the second double-digit jump in a row. Workers on employer family plans already pay $7,471 a year, up 9%. Budget for the new premium before January, compare plans during open enrollment, and set aside the deductible like a bill.
Marketplace plans: what a 15% increase costs
If you pay full price (no subsidy, or you buy outside the Marketplace), the increase goes straight into your budget. The average full-price Marketplace premium was $741 a month in 2026.
| 2026 premium | 2027 at +15% | Extra per month | Extra per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500/mo | $575/mo | +$75 | +$900 |
| $741/mo (2026 average) | $852/mo | +$111 | +$1,334 |
| $1,000/mo | $1,150/mo | +$150 | +$1,800 |
2025 and 2026 averages from healthinsurance.org. 2027 applies KFF's 15% median proposed increase; your plan and state will differ.
If you get a subsidy, most of the increase may not reach you. Premium tax credits are tied to the benchmark plan, so they rise when premiums rise, and your share is capped as a percentage of income (2.15% to 10.22% for 2027). The catch: the enhanced subsidies expired, so the cutoff is back. A single person earning over $63,840, or a family of four over $132,000, gets no subsidy for 2027 and pays full price.
Employer plans: the increase comes out of every paycheck
KFF's 2026 employer survey found family coverage now costs $28,303 a year in total. Workers pay $7,471 of that, up $621 from 2025. Single coverage costs workers $1,672 a year.
| Family coverage, worker share | Per year | Per biweekly paycheck |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,850 | $263.46 |
| 2026 | $7,471 | $287.35 |
| Change | +$621 | +$23.89 |
That's what 2026's increase took from each paycheck. Whatever your employer charges for 2027 shows up on your first January pay stub, so build the new budget from that stub, not last year's.
How to budget for open enrollment
- Price the whole year, not the premium. Add 12 months of premiums plus the deductible you'd realistically hit. A plan that's $60 a month cheaper with a $3,000-higher deductible costs more if you use it.
- Re-shop even if you're happy. If you do nothing, many marketplaces re-enroll you in the same plan at the new price. Insurers are leaving some markets, so your plan may not exist next year.
- Update your income estimate. Marketplace subsidies are set by projected 2027 income. Too low and you repay some at tax time; too high and you overpay all year.
- Set aside the deductible like a bill. A $3,000 deductible is $115 a paycheck over a year (26 paychecks). Put it in savings, or an HSA if your plan qualifies.
- Redo the budget with your January paycheck. Use the real deduction on your first 2027 pay stub, not an estimate.
Put the new premium in your plan before January.
MyGood plans each paycheck and sets aside bills like your deductible, so a doctor visit isn't a surprise. Free, no bank login.
Try MyGood free → New to this? Start with how to fix your finances.Sources
- healthinsurance.org, Health insurance premium increases for 2027 (KFF median, state averages, subsidy limits, 2025–2026 average premiums), October 2026.
- KFF, 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey, October 22, 2026.
- Insurance Business, ACA premiums 2027 by state.
Frequently asked questions
How much are health insurance premiums going up in 2027?
ACA Marketplace insurers proposed a median 15% increase for 2027, according to KFF, the second double-digit increase in a row. State averages range from about 3% in Vermont to almost 28% in Arizona. Employer family coverage rose 5% in 2026, with the worker share up 9% to $7,471 a year.
When is open enrollment for 2027?
Marketplace open enrollment starts November 1, 2026 in most states. Choose a plan by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1, 2027. Some states set their own dates. Employer open enrollment windows are set by each employer, often in the fall.
Will my ACA subsidy cover the 2027 premium increase?
For most subsidized enrollees, largely yes: tax credits are tied to the benchmark plan and rise with premiums, and your share is capped at 2.15% to 10.22% of income. People above 400% of the poverty level ($63,840 for a single person, $132,000 for a family of four) get no subsidy and pay the full increase.
How do I budget for a health insurance deductible?
Treat it as a bill: divide the deductible by your paychecks for the year and set that amount aside each payday. A $3,000 deductible is about $115 per biweekly paycheck. Keep it in savings or an HSA if your plan qualifies.
What app helps budget for rising health insurance costs?
MyGood is a free budgeting app that plans each paycheck, including bills like premiums and a deductible fund, and shows what is safe to spend until the next payday. It works without connecting your bank.