Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee
| 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 |
Tennessee at a glance
- Where Tennessee buys Marketplace plans: HealthCare.gov, the federal Marketplace
- 2027 average rate change: 12.7% to 15.6% (finalized)
- Insurers leaving for 2027: one
- Small-group average change: about 14.7%
- Largest metro areas: Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga
- Medicaid expansion: No
What changed for 2027
Tennessee's increase is finalized, but the trackers put it between about 13 and 16 percent because they weight insurers differently. Small-group plans rise about 14.7 percent. More detail is on the Tennessee 2027 premium increase page.
For Tennessee 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 Tennessee
Tennessee has six insurers for 2027 and one is leaving, so some enrollees will be moved to a replacement plan with a different network. Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga each run on distinct hospital systems, which makes the doctor check matter more than the 13 to 16 percent average.
Self-employed work that is common in Tennessee, and the people I most often help there: session musicians, songwriters and touring crews in Nashville, owner-operator truck drivers and logistics contractors around the Memphis hub, construction trades, real estate agents, healthcare industry consultants, and tourism businesses in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
Before you renew in Tennessee
Tennesseans should start with the hospital system: networks are often built around one system per region, so if you want a particular system in Nashville, Memphis or Knoxville, check it by name before choosing a plan. Clarksville military families and Memphis residents who use Mississippi or Arkansas providers should confirm that the network crosses the line.
Should you renew, switch, or look at private?
Auto-renew risk
Do nothing and HealthCare.gov re-enrolls you at the new 2027 price, 12.7% to 15.6% higher on average in Tennessee. With one insurer leaving, some Tennessee renewals land in a plan from a different company.
Healthy, income above the line
Price a private plan in Tennessee too. If approved, it can start the first of any month, with no wait for Tennessee'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 Tennessee renewal notice
- The new 2027 premium and deductible
- Doctors and prescriptions still in network, including any care in Nashville or Memphis
- Your 2027 income estimate
Missed it?
After Tennessee'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 Tennessee? Tennessee repealed its old continuation law in 2025, then restored a shorter one in 2026: insured group plans must let you continue for the rest of the month plus three months, after three months of coverage, at the full group premium. Three months is brief, so most people leaving a small Tennessee shop also compare a Marketplace or private plan right away.
Short-term plans, if you only need a bridge: Tennessee has no state duration limit for short-term plans and requires them to follow federal duration rules, which currently set a four-month limit that federal agencies are not prioritizing for enforcement. They are not Marketplace coverage.
In Tennessee, a private, medically underwritten plan needs no event. If approved, it starts the first of a month; approval is not guaranteed.
Compare Tennessee 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 Tennessee. 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.
Tennessee open enrollment questions
When does open enrollment end in Tennessee for 2027?
January 15, 2027, on HealthCare.gov, the federal Marketplace. Pick a plan by December 15 for a January 1 start in Tennessee.
What happens if I miss the December 15 deadline in Tennessee?
You can still enroll through January 15, but a plan picked after December 15 starts February 1.
Can I get a private plan in Tennessee outside open enrollment?
Yes. In Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
Usually, at the 2027 price: 12.7% to 15.6% higher on average. With one insurer leaving, some Tennessee renewals land in a plan from a different company.
Is there a fee to use a broker in Tennessee?
No. Tennessee clients pay nothing; the insurance company pays the broker, and Marketplace premiums are the same with or without one.
Is an insurer leaving Tennessee's Marketplace?
Yes, one of six is exiting for 2027. If yours is leaving, choose a new plan on HealthCare.gov by December 15 for a January 1 start, rather than accepting the automatic replacement without checking it.
More for Tennessee
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 Tennessee and 30 other states, NPN 21032307. Last updated November 3, 2026.