MNsure Open Enrollment for 2027 Coverage
Minnesota deadlines, what they mean, and what to do if you miss them
MNsure open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1; after that, coverage starts February 1.
Written by Pat Bernauer, licensed Minnesota insurance agent (NPN 32897) · Updated
Those dates changed recently. A federal rule had shortened the window; court action stopped it and MNsure restored the January 15 end date. Some pages still show the old date.
This page covers individual and family coverage for people under 65. On Medicare? The dates are different — see Medicare enrollment periods.
MNsure — 2027 coverage
Key dates
- November 1, 2026
- Open enrollment begins
- December 15, 2026
- Deadline for coverage starting January 1
- January 15, 2027
- Open enrollment ends
Have a UCare individual or family plan?
Your UCare plan keeps working as it does now through December 31, 2026, when UCare’s individual and family plans end. For 2027, Medica is automatically moving you to the Medica plan it matched to yours (it’s named in your 2027 plan letter), and you can keep that plan or choose a different one during open enrollment — by December 15 for a new plan to start January 1. Medica’s networks are different from UCare’s and its drug lists can differ too, so check your doctors and prescriptions before you decide, and if you get help paying your premium, you may need to update your information with MNsure to keep it. If you stay with Medica, Medica expects to mail your first bill in mid-December: your coverage begins once that bill is paid by its due date, and UCare autopay doesn’t carry over.
If you have questions about the plan Medica matched you to, or you don’t like it, reach out to us.
If you miss it
Outside open enrollment you need a qualifying life event. The common ones:
- Losing employer coverage, including COBRA ending
- Aging off a parent's plan
- Moving to Minnesota
- Marriage or divorce
- Having or adopting a child
- An income change that gains or loses you eligibility for help paying premiums
You generally have 60 days from the event, and coverage usually starts the first of the following month.
Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare are different. If you qualify for either, you can enroll any time of year — the dates above don't apply to you.
How we can help
We're an independent agency, so we compare across carriers rather than selling one company's plans. That includes MNsure marketplace plans and private plans sold off-exchange, which is worth doing side by side — subsidies only apply on-exchange, but the plan that fits isn't always the one with the subsidy.
Common questions
When does open enrollment start in Minnesota?
MNsure open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15, 2026 for coverage that starts January 1; enroll after that and coverage starts February 1.
Didn't the open enrollment window get shortened?
A federal rule had shortened it. Court action stopped that rule and MNsure restored the January 15 end date on August 7, 2026. Some pages still show the old date — the MNsure assister announcement is the authority.
Can I buy health insurance outside of open enrollment?
Only with a qualifying life event — losing employer coverage, moving to Minnesota, marriage or divorce, a birth, or an income change. You generally have 60 days from the event, and coverage usually starts the first of the following month.
Does going straight to the carrier get me around the deadline?
No. The same annual window applies to the whole individual market, on or off the marketplace — and it is the same window whether you call the carrier or call us. Short-term and limited-benefit products can be bought year-round, but they are not the same kind of coverage.
What if I qualify for Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare?
Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare are different. If you qualify for either, you can enroll any time of year — the dates above don't apply to you.
What happens if I miss the deadline?
You wait for the next open enrollment unless you have a qualifying life event. That is the honest answer, and it is why December 15 is worth putting in a calendar now rather than in December.
Dates last verified August 27, 2026. We check these each August, when MNsure publishes the coming year's window.