The Tennessee Enrollment Calendar: Every Window, One Page
Almost every health insurance question in Tennessee comes down to timing: can I sign up now, or do I have to wait? Here's the full answer in one place. Marketplace plans have strict windows. Medicare has its own. And some programs — TennCare, CoverKids, Farm Bureau health plans — enroll year-round.
The headline date: marketplace open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15, 2026 for coverage starting January 1, 2027.
Marketplace (ACA) windows
| Window | Dates | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Open enrollment (2027 coverage) | Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027 | Anyone can enroll or change plans. Enroll by Dec 15 for a Jan 1 start. |
| Special enrollment | Year-round, after a qualifying event | 60 days to enroll after losing coverage, moving, marriage, a new baby, etc. |
Outside open enrollment, you need a qualifying life event to get a special enrollment period. Job loss and aging off a parent's plan at 26 are the most common ones. See our special enrollment guide for the full list and what proof you'll need, and our open enrollment guide for the complete 2027 checklist.
Medicare windows
Medicare runs on its own calendar — it doesn't follow marketplace open enrollment at all.
| Window | Dates | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) | 7 months around your 65th birthday (3 before, the month itself, 3 after) | First chance to enroll in Parts A and B |
| Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) | Oct 15 – Dec 7, 2026 (for 2027 coverage) | Join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan; changes start Jan 1, 2027 |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (MA OEP) | Jan 1 – Mar 31, 2027 | One plan change if you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan |
| General Enrollment Period (GEP) | Jan 1 – Mar 31 each year | For people who missed their IEP and don't qualify for an SEP; late penalties may apply |
| Special enrollment periods | Year-round, after qualifying events | E.g., losing employer coverage (8 months after it ends), moving |
For the Tennessee specifics — TN SHIP free counseling (1-877-801-0044), Medigap rules, Medicare Advantage carriers — see our Medicare in Tennessee page.
Year-round options (no window at all)
These programs don't have enrollment windows. If you qualify, you can apply any day of the year:
- TennCare (Tennessee Medicaid) — children, pregnant women, low-income parents, people with disabilities. Apply at TennCare Connect or 855-259-0701. See our TennCare page.
- CoverKids (Tennessee CHIP) — children under 19 and pregnant women in households up to 250% of the federal poverty level. Same application paths as TennCare. See our CoverKids page.
- Farm Bureau health plans — Tennessee's medically underwritten non-ACA option, available in all 95 counties, enrolls year-round. See our Farm Bureau health plans page.
- Employer coverage — if your job offers insurance, enrollment typically happens when you're hired and during your employer's own annual window. See evaluating employer coverage vs. the marketplace.
2027 dates at a glance
- Oct 15 – Dec 7, 2026: Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (for 2027 coverage)
- Nov 1, 2026: Marketplace open enrollment begins (window shopping on HealthCare.gov typically opens late October)
- Dec 15, 2026: Deadline to enroll for coverage starting January 1, 2027
- Jan 15, 2027: Marketplace open enrollment ends (Dec 16 – Jan 15 enrollments start Feb 1)
- Jan 1 – Mar 31, 2027: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment + Medicare General Enrollment
FAQ
I missed open enrollment. Am I stuck until next November? Not necessarily. If you've had a qualifying life event — lost coverage, moved, married, had a baby — you get a 60-day special enrollment window. And TennCare, CoverKids, and Farm Bureau plans enroll year-round regardless. See our special enrollment guide.
Does Medicare open enrollment happen at the same time as marketplace open enrollment? They overlap but they're different programs with different rules. Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period is October 15 – December 7; the marketplace window is November 1 – January 15. One has nothing to do with the other.
Why do some websites say open enrollment ends December 15? They're showing the old, vacated rule. A 2025 federal rule tried to shorten the 2027 window to end December 15; a federal court struck that provision down in June 2026, and CMS confirmed the full window through January 15, 2027 stands. The government has appealed, but the appeal doesn't change the 2027 dates.
Can I apply for TennCare while marketplace open enrollment is closed? Yes. TennCare and CoverKids have no open enrollment window — apply any time at TennCare Connect (tenncareconnect.tn.gov) or 855-259-0701. See our TennCare page.
When will I be able to see 2027 plans and prices? HealthCare.gov window shopping typically opens in late October, a few days before open enrollment starts November 1. That's when the five 2027 Tennessee insurers' plans, networks, and prices become visible.
We're watching this: Tennessee's exact per-region carrier availability for 2027 hasn't been confirmed yet — the state insurance department's published map still reflects the 2026 plan year (it lists Cigna, which is exiting). We'll update our regions page when HealthCare.gov window shopping confirms who's selling where.
Sources
- CMS / HealthCare.gov (2027 open enrollment dates: November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027)
- Federal court order, City of Columbus v. Kennedy (vacatur of shortened window, June 12, 2026); CMS Deputy Administrator letter (August 2026 confirmation)
- GetCoveredTenn (Navigator program; confirms open enrollment window)
- medicare.gov via secondary reporting (Medicare enrollment periods: IEP, AEP, MA OEP, GEP)
- tn.gov/tenncare and tn.gov/coverkids (year-round enrollment, application paths)
- KFF Health News (Farm Bureau health plans; year-round enrollment)
- The 2027 plan-year research brief on file at this site (how we verify our facts)
Education only, never sales. TN Health Coverage Explained is independent and not-for-profit: no ads, no commissions, no one selling you a plan. For free one-on-one help, call GetCoveredTenn at 1-866-475-7879 or HealthCare.gov at 1-800-318-2596. About us
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