Health Insurance Open Enrollment 2027 in Jacksonville: Deadlines and Free Help
Two clocks are running for health coverage in 2027. Marketplace Open Enrollment at HealthCare.gov runs November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027. And for kids, Florida KidCare takes applications all year. Here are the dates that matter and the free local help that exists.
The December 15 date is the important one
- Enroll by December 15, 2026 (and pay your first premium) for coverage that starts January 1, 2027.
- Enroll December 16 – January 15 and your coverage starts February 1, 2027.
- After January 15, you generally need a life event (losing coverage, moving, marriage, a baby) to enroll.
Prices changed this year — check before you auto-renew
The extra tax credits that lowered Marketplace prices from 2021 through 2025 expired on December 31, 2025 and had not been renewed as of this writing. Your 2027 price may be higher than last year’s even for the same plan. Log in, look at the real 2027 price, and compare plans instead of letting a plan auto-renew unchecked. (We will update this post if Congress acts.)
The Florida reality check
Florida has not expanded Medicaid, so most adults without children do not qualify for Medicaid no matter how low their income is. For many Jacksonville adults, a Marketplace plan with tax credits is the real door. Do not assume you have no options.
Kids: KidCare is open all year
Florida KidCare covers children from birth through age 18, and enrollment never closes. Most families pay $15 or $20 a month to cover all of their qualifying children — some pay nothing. Apply at floridakidcare.org or call 1-888-540-5437. One application checks Medicaid, MediKids, Florida Healthy Kids, and Children’s Medical Services for you.
Free local help — real people, no sales
The Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida runs Certified Navigators through the Covering Florida program. They will sit with you, explain your options, and complete the application — free, and they do not sell plans. Call (866) 295-5955.
No coverage right now?
Sliding-scale clinics like Agape Family Health and the Duval Family Health Center charge based on what you can pay, and Volunteers in Medicine runs a free clinic for working uninsured adults. Care exists while you sort out coverage.
Then run our free checker — it matches you to food, housing, utility, and health programs in about two minutes.
More help on this site: Florida KidCare · Agape Family Health · Volunteers in Medicine — Free Clinic · Florida Medicaid — Children and Families
Sources: HealthCare.gov dates-and-deadlines schedule for 2027 coverage; Florida KidCare (floridakidcare.org); Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida (Navigator program). Marketplace dates and the Navigator line re-checked at publish time, October 24, 2026.
