Covered California renewal opens today: 2027 rates up 9.9%

If you buy health insurance through Covered California, today is the first day you can look at your 2027 options. Current members can renew their plan or switch to a different one starting October 1. People who are new to the marketplace can apply during open enrollment, which runs from November 1, 2026, to January 31, 2027. New rates take effect on January 1.

Prices are going up. Covered California announced a weighted average rate increase of 9.9% for 2027, which it noted is lower than the national median of 14%. Your own change could be higher or lower depending on where you live, which plan you have and your income, so the renewal notice is worth reading closely instead of letting the plan roll over without a look.

There is also more state help this year. California raised funding for its own subsidy program to $300 million. Covered California projects that more than 500,000 enrollees, about 30% of members, will receive that assistance, and nearly 200,000 people may qualify for a Silver plan with a $0 premium. Twelve carriers will offer plans, and CalOptima Health is joining the marketplace in Orange County.

If your income or household size changed this year, update it in your account before you compare plans, because those numbers decide how much financial help you get. For questions about your own coverage, Covered California's website and service center are the place to start.

A useful step this morning is to find your renewal notice or log in, and write down what you pay now so you have a number to compare against.