Montana Open Enrollment for 2027 Coverage
Last updated November 3, 2026 · By Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker
Short answer
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage in Montana runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. Enroll by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1; plans picked December 16–January 15 start February 1. Private, medically underwritten plans don't use the window: if approved, they can start the first of any month.
Key dates for Montana
| What | HealthCare.gov |
|---|---|
| Open enrollment opens | November 1, 2026 |
| Open enrollment closes | January 15, 2027 |
| Deadline for a January 1, 2027 start | December 15, 2026 |
| Plans picked December 16 to January 15 | Start February 1, 2027 |
| Private plans | Any month, if approved |
Montana at a glance
- Where Montana buys Marketplace plans: HealthCare.gov, the federal Marketplace
- 2027 average rate change: 22.6% to 23.3% (finalized)
- Insurers filing individual plans: two
- Small-group average change: about 18%
- Largest metro areas: Billings, Missoula, Great Falls and Bozeman
- Medicaid expansion: Yes (a separate program, not tied to this window)
What changed for 2027
Montana's 23 percent is finalized, and small-group plans rise about 18 percent, one of the larger group increases on my list. With two insurers, a single rate decision moves much of the market. More detail is on the Montana 2027 premium increase page.
For Montana households buying 2027 coverage, the Marketplace premium tax credit stops at 400% of the federal poverty level: $63,840 for one person, $86,560 for two, $109,280 for three and $132,000 for four. The repayment caps were removed starting with tax year 2026, so any excess advance credit is repaid in full on Form 8962. General information, not tax advice — confirm with your CPA based on your specific entity structure.
Who this year's window matters for in Montana
Montana's 2027 choice often comes down to two networks, since only two insurers filed, and finalized rates are up about 23 percent. Long drives to hospitals in Billings, Missoula, Bozeman and Great Falls make the network decision weigh more than a few dollars of premium. Montana's reinsurance program, approved through 2029, helps but did not prevent a large jump.
Self-employed work that is common in Montana, and the people I most often help there: ranching families, outfitters and guides working a short season, construction trades in Bozeman and the Flathead, oil and gas contractors in the Bakken counties, remote tech workers who moved in, and real estate agents.
Before you renew in Montana
Montanans who live an hour or more from a hospital should check which regional referral centers are in network, not only the nearest clinic. Summer guides, outfitters and other seasonal workers with almost no winter income should build the 2027 estimate from the whole year. If you are healthy and above the subsidy line, a private plan is worth pricing against a 23 percent jump.
Should you renew, switch, or look at private?
Auto-renew risk
Do nothing and HealthCare.gov re-enrolls you at the new 2027 price, 22.6% to 23.3% higher on average in Montana.
Healthy, income above the line
Price a private plan in Montana too. If approved, it can start the first of any month, with no wait for Montana's window.
Health conditions or subsidy-eligible income
Use the Marketplace. HealthCare.gov plans can't decline you or charge more for your health.
Checklist before you pick a plan
- Your Montana renewal notice
- The new 2027 premium and deductible
- Doctors and prescriptions still in network, including any care in Billings or Missoula
- Your 2027 income estimate
Missed it?
After Montana's window closes, a Marketplace plan needs a special enrollment event: losing other coverage, a move, marriage or a baby, generally within 60 days, through HealthCare.gov. Check with Can I enroll now? or the missed open enrollment guide.
Leaving a job in Montana? Montana has no general continuation law for people who leave a small employer; its law only lets a worker whose hours drop below the plan's minimum keep group coverage for up to one year, with the employer's consent and at the group rate.
Short-term plans, if you only need a bridge: Montana does not limit the duration of short-term plans in its own law, so federal rules govern, and federal agencies are not prioritizing enforcement of the four-month federal limit. They are not Marketplace coverage.
In Montana, a private, medically underwritten plan needs no event. If approved, it starts the first of a month; approval is not guaranteed.
Compare Montana plans before you renew
Private plans priced first, the Marketplace alongside when it fits. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee.
About your broker
Frank Caballero (NPN 21032307) is a health insurance broker licensed in 31 states including Montana. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee. BBB Accredited (A) and rated 4.9 on Google from 78 reviews. He is independent, not HealthCare.gov or a government agency.
Montana open enrollment questions
When does open enrollment end in Montana for 2027?
January 15, 2027, on HealthCare.gov, the federal Marketplace. Pick a plan by December 15 for a January 1 start in Montana.
What happens if I miss the December 15 deadline in Montana?
You can still enroll through January 15, but a plan picked after December 15 starts February 1.
Can I get a private plan in Montana outside open enrollment?
Yes. In Montana you can apply in any month, and if approved, a private, medically underwritten plan starts the first of a month; the insurer can decline based on health.
Will I be auto-renewed in Montana?
Usually, at the 2027 price: 22.6% to 23.3% higher on average.
Is there a fee to use a broker in Montana?
No. Montana clients pay nothing; the insurance company pays the broker, and Marketplace premiums are the same with or without one.
Does Montana have a reinsurance program?
Yes. Montana runs a state reinsurance program under a federal waiver approved for 2025 through 2029. It reimburses insurers for some high-cost claims and is designed to keep individual premiums lower than they would otherwise be.
More for Montana
Open enrollment in nearby states
Official sources: HealthCare.gov, the federal Marketplace; HealthCare.gov: special enrollment periods. HealthCare.gov is the federal Marketplace. FC Insurance Solutions is an independent, licensed brokerage and is not affiliated with any government agency.
Written by Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker in Montana and 30 other states, NPN 21032307. Last updated November 3, 2026.