What Documents Do You Need for 2027 Health Insurance Open Enrollment?
Preparing before you begin your health insurance application can help you avoid delays and compare plans more accurately.
You may not need to upload every document listed below. However, you should have accurate household, income and current-coverage information available when completing your application for 2027 Marketplace coverage.
2027 Open Enrollment Dates
The 2027 Open Enrollment Period is scheduled to begin November 1, 2026.
Key dates include:
November 1, 2026: Open Enrollment begins.
December 15, 2026: Enroll or change plans by this date for coverage expected to begin January 1, 2027.
January 1, 2027: Coverage begins for eligible consumers who enrolled by December 15 and paid any required first premium.
January 15, 2027: Open Enrollment ends. Consumers enrolling between December 16 and January 15 generally have coverage beginning February 1 after paying the required premium.
Do not wait until the final deadline to gather your information. Missing or inconsistent information can delay eligibility verification or enrollment.
1. Information About Everyone in Your Household
Be prepared to provide information about each person included in your Marketplace household, even if not everyone needs coverage.
You may need:
Full legal name
Date of birth
Home and mailing address
Relationship to the applicant
Marital status
Tax-filing status
Social Security number, when required
Information about household members who need coverage
Information about household members who already have coverage
Your Marketplace household is generally based on your expected tax household for the coverage year. It may not include every person who lives at your address.
2. Social Security Numbers and Immigration Documents
The Marketplace may request Social Security numbers for applicants and other household members who have them.
Lawfully present immigrants applying for coverage may need information from an eligible immigration document, such as:
Permanent Resident Card
Employment Authorization Document
Arrival/Departure Record
Certificate of Naturalization
Certificate of Citizenship
Certain visas or other qualifying immigration records
Only provide the information requested for the people included in the application.
3. Projected 2027 Household Income
Marketplace financial-assistance eligibility is generally based on the household income you reasonably expect to receive during 2027—not simply the amount shown on your most recent tax return.
Gather information about expected income from sources such as:
Wages and salaries
Self-employment or business income
Unemployment compensation
Social Security benefits
Retirement or pension income
Investment income
Rental income
Alimony from agreements executed before 2019
Other income requested by the Marketplace
Helpful records may include:
Recent pay stubs
Wage or salary statements
A recent federal tax return
Self-employment profit-and-loss records
Unemployment-benefit statements
Social Security benefit letters
Pension or retirement statements
Records of expected changes in income
If your income changes during 2027, update your Marketplace application. A significant difference between your estimated and actual household income could affect your financial assistance.
4. Employer Health Coverage Information
The Marketplace application may ask whether anyone in your household can enroll in health coverage through an employer.
If employer coverage is available, gather:
Employer name and address
Employer telephone number
Contact information for the benefits department
Whether coverage is currently offered
The employee’s eligibility date
The employee-only premium
The premium for dependent or family coverage
Information about the benefits offered
The date any existing employer coverage will end
Access to qualifying employer-sponsored coverage can affect eligibility for Marketplace financial assistance, even if the employee does not enroll in that coverage.
5. Information About Current Health Coverage
Have information available about any coverage household members currently have, including:
Marketplace insurance
Employer-sponsored insurance
Medicaid
Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage
Medicare
TRICARE
COBRA
Individual health insurance purchased outside the Marketplace
You may need the insurance company’s name, policy number, covered household members and expected coverage-end date.
If someone is losing coverage, keep the termination notice. Loss of qualifying coverage may also create a Special Enrollment Period outside annual Open Enrollment.
6. Information About Your Doctors and Prescriptions
You generally do not need medical records to apply for Marketplace insurance. Marketplace plans cannot deny coverage or increase your premium because of a pre-existing condition.
However, preparing a list of your healthcare needs can help you select a plan that fits you.
Write down:
Your primary-care doctor’s full name and location
Specialists you regularly see
Preferred hospitals and medical facilities
Each prescription’s exact name
Dosage and form
Preferred pharmacies
Upcoming treatments or procedures
Check the provider network and prescription formulary for the exact plan you are considering. Plans from the same insurance company can have different networks and drug coverage.
7. Marketplace Notices or Verification Requests
If you have previously applied for Marketplace coverage, review any recent notices before submitting a new application.
A notice may request proof of:
Household income
Citizenship or immigration status
Loss of other health coverage
Marriage, birth, adoption or another qualifying event
Lack of access to employer-sponsored coverage
Your current address or identity
Follow the instructions and deadline shown in the notice. Upload clear, complete copies that display all relevant names, dates and identifying information.
Documents You Usually Do Not Need to Apply
You generally do not need to submit:
Medical records
A physical examination
A health questionnaire
Proof that you are healthy
Documentation of pre-existing conditions
Marketplace plans cannot reject an eligible applicant because of health history or a pre-existing medical condition.
Before You Submit Your Application
Review the application carefully and confirm that:
Names and dates of birth are correct
Your address and ZIP code reflect where you currently live
Your expected 2027 household income is reasonable
Your tax-household information is accurate
Employer-coverage information is complete
Doctors and prescriptions were checked against the exact plan
You understand the premium, deductible and out-of-pocket limit
You have responded to any verification requests
You know where to pay the first premium
Your enrollment is not complete until the insurance company receives any required first-premium payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need my tax return to enroll?
Not necessarily. A recent tax return can be helpful, but your application should report the income you reasonably expect your household to receive during 2027. Recent pay stubs or other income records may better reflect your current circumstances.
Do I need to upload documents when I apply?
Not every applicant will be asked to upload documents. The Marketplace may request documentation when it cannot verify information in an application or needs proof of a qualifying event.
Can I apply if I am self-employed?
Yes. Self-employed applicants should make a reasonable estimate of their expected net business income for 2027. Profit-and-loss statements, business records and recent tax documents may help with that estimate.
Do I need information about a spouse who does not need insurance?
You may. Marketplace household and financial-assistance determinations generally consider tax-household information, even when only one household member is applying for coverage.
Can I complete enrollment entirely online?
Eligible consumers can compare available plans and complete Marketplace enrollment online through Aura Insure. Additional documentation or verification may be required in some situations.
Prepare Now for 2027 Open Enrollment
Having your household, income and current-coverage information ready can make it easier to compare premiums, deductibles, provider networks and prescription benefits.
Aura Insure is a licensed health insurance agency. National Producer Number: 21175181. Aura Insure is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government. Plan availability, premiums, benefits, provider networks and savings vary by location, household and eligibility. Enrollment may be limited to Open Enrollment unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
Last reviewed: September 14, 2026.
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