2027 open enrollment is open now. Enroll by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1.
Our help costs you nothing
Dobson Health Insurance Group compares plans from several carriers and checks that your doctors and prescriptions are covered before you enroll. Then we make sure you get every dollar of financial help you qualify for.
Federal law requires insurers to charge the same premium whether you buy through a broker, directly from the carrier, or on HealthCare.gov. The broker commission is built into every plan’s rate either way. Going direct doesn’t remove it. It just means nobody is helping you.
Who buys individual health insurance?
Most people who call us don’t have a plan through work.
Self employed and contractors
You run your own business or take contract work and need coverage you control.
Early retirees
You left work before 65 and need a plan until Medicare starts.
Turning 26
Your child is aging off the family plan and needs coverage of their own.
Families priced out at work
Adding your spouse and kids to the work plan costs too much.
If your employer’s plan is expensive to extend to your spouse and kids, an individual plan for them may cost less. Since 2023, family members can qualify for tax credits when the employer’s family coverage is unaffordable. It’s worth running the numbers.
What every ACA plan has to cover
Every plan sold on the Marketplace, and every ACA compliant plan sold outside it, covers the ten essential health benefits.
Preventive care costs you nothing when you see an in network provider. Annual checkups, many cancer screenings, and recommended vaccines all fall in that group.
No insurer can turn you down or charge you more because of a preexisting condition. Your price can only change based on your age, where you live, tobacco use, and whether the plan covers just you or your family.
- Doctor visits
- Hospital stays
- Emergency care
- Prescriptions
- Maternity and newborn care
- Mental health treatment
- Lab work
- Rehab services
- Preventive care
- Dental and vision for children
Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans explained
The tier tells you how costs split between you and the plan on average. It says nothing about the quality of care.
Healthy people who want a low premium and protection from a big bill.
Anyone who qualifies for extra savings on their deductible.
People who see doctors often or manage an ongoing condition.
Heavy users of care. Not sold in every state.
If your household income is under 250% of the federal poverty level, a Silver plan comes with cost sharing reductions. Those lower your deductible and copays, sometimes by thousands of dollars. For a lot of families in that range, Silver beats Bronze even with a higher premium.
Catastrophic plans are also available if you’re under 30 or qualify for a hardship exemption.
Will you get help paying your premium in 2027?
The enhanced tax credits that ran from 2021 through 2025 expired at the end of 2025. Congress has not brought them back.
For 2027 coverage, premium tax credits go to households earning between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level. Earn a dollar over that line and the credit goes away completely. In states that expanded Medicaid, adults with lower incomes usually qualify for Medicaid instead.
Approximate income limit for a tax credit
Approximate income limit for a tax credit
Of income you pay for the benchmark Silver plan
One change matters a lot. Starting with the 2026 tax year, there is no cap on how much extra credit you pay back at tax time. If your income goes up during the year and you don’t report it, you could owe the full difference. Call us when your income changes and we’ll update your application.
When can you enroll?
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov.
Open enrollment starts
Enroll by this date for coverage on January 1
Open enrollment ends. Coverage starts February 1.
States that run their own exchange can set different dates.
Outside that window, you need a qualifying life event. Losing other coverage, getting married, having a baby, and moving to a new county all count. That opens a Special Enrollment Period, which usually gives you 60 days to pick a plan. If you know your coverage is ending, you can apply up to 60 days early and avoid a gap.
Why work with a broker instead of going it alone?
Going direct doesn’t save you money. What you do get with us is someone who reads the fine print.
Two Silver plans can look almost identical until you notice one leaves out your cardiologist. Or it puts your daily medication on the most expensive drug tier. We catch that before you enroll, not after the first bill shows up.
Marketplace navigators can help you fill out an application, but they aren’t allowed to recommend a plan. We can, and we will.
We also stay with you after you sign up. If a claim gets denied or your income changes midyear, you call us. We review your plan again every fall.
Understanding Our Process
A 15 minute call usually covers everything we need to get started.
Understanding your needs
Tell us about your household, your income, your doctors, and your prescriptions.
Choosing carriers and plans
We compare plans across carriers and show you the two or three that fit best.
Enrolling you
You choose. We handle the application and confirm your tax credit.
Yearly plan review
We check back before every renewal so your plan keeps fitting.
Frequently asked questions
Does it cost more to buy health insurance through a broker?
No. Federal law requires insurers to charge the same premium no matter where you buy. The insurance company pays our commission, and it’s already part of the rate.
Can I be denied coverage for a preexisting condition?
Not on an ACA plan. Every Marketplace plan and every ACA compliant plan has to accept you at the standard rate. Short term plans and health care sharing ministries are different. They can deny you or exclude your condition.
What is the most I could pay in a year?
For 2027, federal law caps out of pocket costs at $12,000 for an individual and $24,000 for a family. That covers in network care the plan includes. Your monthly premiums don’t count toward it.
Can I keep my doctor?
It depends on the plan’s network. HMO and EPO plans generally don’t cover doctors outside the network except in an emergency. PPO plans do, at a higher cost. We check the provider directory for every doctor you name before you enroll.
My employer offers insurance. Can I still buy my own plan?
Yes. You usually won’t qualify for a tax credit if your employer’s plan is affordable and meets minimum value. Your spouse and kids might, though, if adding them to the work plan costs too much.
Ready to compare plans?
Call Dobson Health Insurance Group or request a free quote online. We’ll show you exactly what fits before you commit to anything.
Last reviewed November 6, 2026. Dates and income figures apply to 2027 coverage and can change.
Let’s Make Things Happen
I always make myself available to help my clients or someone looking to add new health insurance coverage
