ACA Open Enrollment Opens With Stricter ID Checks and Fewer Brokers
Shoppers face new identity verification steps and a shortage of agents for 2027 coverage, while premiums rise 15%.
By Amina Kaminski ·
Open enrollment for 2027 Affordable Care Act coverage began on November 1 in most states. Idaho, Connecticut, and Massachusetts started earlier, and some regions allowed rate checks before the official start. Consumers now face tighter identity rules, a reduced pool of available brokers, and premium increases of roughly 15%.
The shift follows the expiration of enhanced subsidies at the end of 2025. Policy experts noted that the loss of these funds caused millions to drop coverage in early 2026. The Trump administration cited this decline as a success of its fraud-fighting efforts, including an August cancellation of policies for 760,000 enrollees suspected of improper sign-ups. Most of those cancellations have not been reversed.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services introduced new verification steps for consumers using agents on the federal marketplace. These changes apply to 29 states that use the federal platform. State-based exchanges have their own rules and are largely exempt. All consumers using an agent must now receive a one-time confirmation code via text, email, or phone to authorize that specific agent. Returning customers with outdated contact information must update their details directly with the marketplace before an agent can act.
Consumers labeled as high-risk face additional hurdles. CMS defines this group to include first-time applicants, those changing states, or those with monthly premiums of $30 or less. These individuals must verify their identity through a third-party service like Experian. If verification fails, they must upload government-issued ID such as a passport or driver's license to a healthcare.gov account.
A September CMS rule further limits the market by pausing new broker registrations. Agents not registered in 2026 cannot assist with 2027 enrollments until February. This rule targets newly registered agents, who accounted for a high number of compliance concerns last year. Jason Fine, a Florida broker, said the move may unintentionally benefit large call centers that maintain year-round staff, while small agencies struggle to find available agents. His firm planned to hire up to 10 new agents but found the labor pool thin.
Two industry groups filed lawsuits against the moratorium in October. The National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals sued on October 15, arguing the rule targets 19,000 new agents. Health Agents for America filed for a temporary restraining order on October 21. Ronnell Nolan, president of the latter group, stated that the rule stops trained agents from working after their firms spent thousands on their education.
Premiums for 2027 are expected to rise 15%, down from the 26% increase seen last year. Subsidies remain available for households earning up to four times the federal poverty level. For a single person, that cap is $63,840. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act removed subsidy eligibility for many lawfully present immigrants, including H-1B visa holders and refugees. Only green-card holders, certain Cuban and Haitian immigrants, and citizens of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, or Palau remain eligible. The out-of-pocket maximum for individuals will rise 13% to $12,000 in 2027.
Experts advise consumers to avoid automatic renewals. Louise Norris, a health policy analyst, said shoppers should compare plans because premiums and deductibles change annually. Several insurers, including Cigna, have exited parts of the ACA market. Anne Petry, an insurance agent in Illinois, warned that affordability will be the primary struggle for many buyers this year.
