Every fall, millions of marketplace enrollees ignore their renewal notice and let their plan roll over. Usually they stay covered. But "still covered" and "on the right plan at the right price" are two different things — especially for 2027, when subsidies and premiums have shifted more than usual.
How automatic re-enrollment works
If you had a marketplace plan this year and do nothing during Open Enrollment, the marketplace generally re-enrolls you automatically:
- Same plan, if it is still offered. Your insurer keeps you on it for the new year.
- A similar plan, if yours is discontinued. You are moved to a comparable plan — often from the same insurer — that you did not personally choose.
- Your subsidy is recalculated using the information the marketplace has on file, which may be a year old.
The four things that change without asking you
1. Your premium
Insurers file new rates every year. Benchmark premiums are projected to rise again for 2027, and the enhanced subsidies that softened increases ended after 2025. A plan that cost you a manageable amount last year can cost noticeably more this year even though nothing about you changed.
2. Your subsidy
Your premium tax credit is based on the second-lowest-cost Silver plan in your area. When that benchmark plan changes, your credit changes too — sometimes enough that a different plan becomes the better deal.
3. Your network
Doctors and hospitals join and leave networks every year. Auto-renewal does not warn you that your specialist is no longer in network. Re-verify before January — our guide to checking whether your doctor is in-network shows how.
4. Your drug coverage
Formularies change annually. A medication on a low tier this year can move to a higher tier, require prior authorization, or drop off entirely. See how to check your medications.
The income problem hiding in auto-renewal
If your income changed and you let the marketplace reuse old information, your advance subsidy may be wrong. Starting with 2026 coverage, the caps that used to limit how much excess subsidy you repay at tax time were eliminated — so a big mismatch can now mean a big tax bill. Updating your income is the single most important renewal step. Here is how to estimate your 2027 income.
A 20-minute renewal routine
- Open your renewal notice and note next year's premium and plan name.
- Update your household income and size on your application.
- Compare at least three plans on total expected cost, not just premium.
- Confirm your doctors and prescriptions on the plan you choose.
- Select your plan by December 15 for a January 1 start.
When auto-renewal is fine
If your income is stable, your doctors are still in network, your medications are covered the same way, and the new premium is acceptable, letting your plan renew is reasonable. The point is to decide on purpose. If you want a second set of eyes, a licensed agent can compare your renewal against every alternative at no cost to you.
Want to see if a different plan beats your renewal? Our free tool compares plans across top carriers and shows what you would actually pay in about 60 seconds — no obligation, and a licensed agent reviews your options with you. Get your free quote →