Pennie opens 2027 health enrollment Nov. 1 after costs double

Average health insurance costs doubled for Pennsylvanians who kept their marketplace coverage in 2026. For West Chester-area residents who buy their own insurance, the window to shop for 2027 plans opens Sunday, Nov. 1.

Pennie, the state's official health insurance marketplace, announced Oct. 22 that consumers must enroll by Dec. 15 to lock in coverage starting Jan. 1, 2027, MyChesCo reported. Enrollment stays open through Jan. 15, but anyone who signs up after Dec. 15 would not be covered until Feb. 1, leaving a one-month gap.

The cost spike traces to Congress's decision not to extend enhanced premium tax credits that expired Dec. 31, 2025. Those additional subsidies, first introduced in 2021, had lowered premiums for marketplace customers. Pennie said the expiration prompted a substantial enrollment decline.

Still, the original federal tax credits remain in place. Pennie estimates four out of five enrollees qualify for financial assistance, with marketplace customers saving an average of $6,000 a year.

Pennie Executive Director Devon Trolley said hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania residents remain uninsured, including people who may qualify for subsidies but have never checked.

"Don't assume you can't afford coverage when it only takes a few minutes to check if you qualify for savings," Trolley said.

Rates climbing again for 2027

On top of the subsidy loss, premiums are rising. The Pennsylvania Insurance Department approved 2027 rates in September showing an average individual-market increase of 15.97%, reduced from the 17.14% insurers originally requested. The department denied $94.7 million in rate increases it deemed unjustified.

Rate changes vary by insurer. Among the approved individual-market rates statewide, Keystone Health Plan East was approved at a 16% increase and QCC Insurance Company at 21.3%, both driven by worsening medical and drug cost trends. Oscar Health Plan of Pennsylvania, by contrast, was approved at just 1.4%.

Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys urged consumers to compare plans rather than assume their current coverage remains the most economical option. Humphreys said prices and tax credit amounts change every year.

The department also noted that the July 2025 federal budget law added Medicaid work requirements and new enrollment paperwork expected to leave more Pennsylvanians uninsured in 2027, pushing uncompensated-care costs onto hospitals and premium-paying customers.

What to do before Dec. 15

Current enrollees should update their income, household size and contact information. Pennie warned that recent federal policy changes have increased penalties for inaccurate income reporting.

Uninsured residents can get a preliminary cost estimate by answering five questions at pennie.com. Free enrollment help is available through certified brokers, enrollment specialists and customer service representatives by phone, online or in person. Local assistance can be found at pennie.com/connect.

Pennie's customer service line, 844-844-8040, operates during open enrollment from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.