What this means for you: Open enrollment for 2027 runs Nov 1, 2026 to Jan 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. Choose a plan by Dec 15 for coverage that starts Jan 1. Gather a few details before you compare: who needs coverage, your income, your doctors and your prescriptions. Granted's open enrollment help can then compare your options on estimated yearly cost in about 15 minutes.
Picking health insurance can turn into a second job. You open a few tabs, compare monthly prices, search for your doctor, and end up reading a PDF that somehow raises more questions than it answers.
Start with the checklist below, whether you compare on your own or with us.
What to have ready before you compare health plans
Comparing health plans goes faster when your details are in one place. Most of these take a few minutes to find. Save this list for when you sit down to compare.
If you use Granted, send all of this in your first reply. That's the fastest way to get your comparison back.
Who open enrollment help is for
Open enrollment help is useful any time you're choosing a plan. These are the most common situations we see.
Buying your own plan: You're self-employed, between jobs, or your job doesn't offer coverage. You shop on HealthCare.gov or your state's marketplace. The marketplace is the government website where you buy your own plan.
Renewing a 2026 plan: Prices and plan options change each year. Compare again before you renew, even if you liked this year's plan.
Choosing between plans at work: Your employer offers two or more plans, and the differences are hard to read. Upload the plan documents, and Granted can compare them for you.
Going through a life change: You lost job-based coverage, had a baby, moved to a new ZIP code or county, or turned 26 and are leaving a parent's plan.
A life change can open a special enrollment period. That's a window to enroll outside open enrollment. For most of these events, you have 60 days to choose a plan. See HealthCare.gov's list of life events that qualify.
How to compare health insurance plans on yearly cost
Comparing health insurance plans on the monthly premium alone can mislead you. A plan with a lower premium can cost more over the year if you use a lot of care. HealthCare.gov explains how those costs add up.
Gather your details. Use the checklist above.
List every plan you can choose from. Include plans from work and the marketplace, if you can get both.
Add up 12 months of premiums. Subtract any premium tax credit you expect.
Estimate what you'd pay for care. Your deductible is what you pay for covered care before your plan starts to pay. A copay is a set fee for a visit or service. Coinsurance is your percentage share of a bill. Add what you'd likely pay for the care you expect.
Check the out-of-pocket maximum. That's the most you'd pay for covered in-network care in one year. It matters most if you expect a big year.
Check your doctors and prescriptions. In-network doctors and hospitals have a contract with your plan. Look up each one, plus each prescription, for every plan.
Choose by the deadline. Pick a HealthCare.gov plan by Dec 15 for Jan 1 coverage. Then pay your first premium.
These are estimates. Your actual costs will depend on the care you receive.
How Granted's Pick Insurance helps
HealthCare.gov lets you preview plans and price quotes for your area. Granted's Pick Insurance feature does the comparing for you, in the Granted app. Here's what it adds.
Your past care, priced: If you've connected your insurance, we price your last 12 months of claims under each plan.
Your doctors and prescriptions, checked: We look up each one against every plan we compare and show you what we find.
The sources, attached: You get a PDF of every page we checked, so you can see where each number came from.
Your work plans, compared: Choosing between plans at work? Just upload each plan's Summary of Benefits and Coverage and its cost per paycheck. We'll compare them for your household.
Tell us what matters. Start a plan case in the Granted app chat. Answer our questions once, using the checklist above.
We'll do the research. Granted compares plans on estimated yearly cost and checks the details you've shared.
Review the comparison. About 15 minutes later, your results arrive in the app chat. You'll see estimated yearly costs, the tradeoffs, and the source PDF.
When you're ready to choose, we'll give you the enrollment steps. You complete enrollment yourself.
Give yourself time before the deadline
For 2027 coverage through HealthCare.gov, choose a plan by Dec 15 for coverage that starts Jan 1. Then pay your first premium by your plan's deadline. Open enrollment ends Jan 15. Plans chosen Dec 16 to Jan 15 start Feb 1. See HealthCare.gov's dates and deadlines.
If you're choosing through a state marketplace or your employer, check their enrollment dates.
Frequently asked questions about open enrollment help
Does Pick Insurance work in my state?
Pick Insurance prices HealthCare.gov plans directly. If your state runs its own marketplace, such as California or New York, we use that marketplace's quote tool. Double-check prices on your state's site before you enroll.
Can Granted compare the plans my employer offers?
Yes. Upload each plan's Summary of Benefits and Coverage and what it costs per paycheck. We'll compare them for your household. Having coverage through work doesn't make the deductible math any more enjoyable. We can take that part on.
Does Granted enroll me in the plan?
No. Granted compares your options and gives you the steps. You enroll yourself on HealthCare.gov, your state's marketplace, or your employer's benefits site. That way the plan and the account stay in your name.
Will Granted check whether my doctor is in network?
Yes. We check each doctor and hospital you name against the plans we compare. Insurer directories can be out of date, though. Call your doctor's office and the insurer to confirm before you enroll.
What does Granted charge for plan help?
Plan help in the app is free. Granted is a health advocacy service that helps you understand and lower your healthcare costs.
Sources & More information
HealthCare.gov: Dates and deadlines (checked Nov 3, 2026)
HealthCare.gov: Your total costs for health care (checked Nov 3, 2026)
HealthCare.gov: Special enrollment period (checked Nov 3, 2026)
HealthCare.gov: See plans and prices (checked Nov 3, 2026)