Documents You Need to Apply for ObamaCare in 2027: A Simple Checklist
Updated October 13, 2026 · By the Arte Insurance team · 5-minute read
Applying for ObamaCare (the Health Insurance Marketplace) goes much faster when your information is ready. Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, and you need to choose a plan by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1. Use this checklist before you apply on your own or call us.
1. Basic information for everyone applying
Full names and dates of birth for everyone who needs coverage
Social Security numbers for everyone applying who has one
Home address and mailing address
How you plan to file your 2027 taxes: single or married filing jointly, and who you’ll claim as dependents. The Marketplace uses your tax household to calculate your savings.
2. Immigration documents (if anyone applying isn’t a U.S. citizen)
Have the document numbers for each person who is applying. The most common ones are:
Permanent Resident Card (“green card”, I-551)
Employment Authorization Document (I-766)
Arrival/Departure Record (I-94)
Notice of Action (I-797)
Foreign passport
Alien number (A-number, also called USCIS number)
HealthCare.gov accepts other document types too, depending on each person’s status. Starting January 1, 2027, the rules on which immigrants can get premium tax credits change: see Who Can Get Lower ObamaCare Costs in 2027? According to HealthCare.gov, people who can’t get Marketplace coverage themselves may still apply for eligible family members, such as children who are U.S. citizens.
3. Income: your best estimate for 2027
Your premium tax credit is based on what you expect your household to earn in 2027, not last year. To build a good estimate, gather:
Recent pay stubs, plus your W-2s or your 2025 tax return as a starting point
If you’re self-employed or a gig worker: your best estimate of your 2027 net earnings (income minus business expenses)
Other income, like Social Security benefits, unemployment or retirement income
Estimate carefully. Since the 2026 tax year, there’s no cap on how much of the advance tax credit you may have to pay back if your income ends up higher than you estimated. If your income changes during the year, update your application. Our 2027 savings calculator gives you a quick first estimate.
4. Coverage you have now, or could get through a job
Policy numbers for any health plan that covers someone in your household today
If you have a 2026 Marketplace plan: your Marketplace notices, which show your plan ID. If your plan is from Cigna or Sunshine State Health Plan, read what to do before December 15.
If anyone in your household can get health insurance through a job, even if they don’t take it: the details of that coverage. HealthCare.gov’s Employer Coverage Tool lists what to ask the employer.
5. Your doctors and medicines
List your doctors, clinics, hospitals and prescriptions. Networks and drug lists change every year, so we’ll check that the plan you choose includes them.
6. If an agent helps you
Federal rules require your consent before an agent helps with your Marketplace application, so we’ll ask for it first, and you’ll review your information before it’s submitted. If you have a HealthCare.gov account, keep your username handy. Never share your password with anyone, including us.
After you apply
Pay your first premium to the insurance company. Your coverage doesn’t start until you do.
Watch your mail and your HealthCare.gov messages. If the Marketplace can’t confirm something, like your income or immigration status, it will send a notice asking for documents. Send them by the deadline in the notice, or you could lose your coverage or savings. HealthCare.gov takes uploads (PDF, JPG, PNG and other formats under 10 MB) or photocopies by mail. It doesn’t accept documents by email or fax.
Key dates for 2027 coverage
November 1, 2026: Open Enrollment starts
December 15, 2026: last day to enroll for coverage starting January 1
January 15, 2027: Open Enrollment ends. Plans chosen December 16 – January 15 start February 1.
Get help in English or Spanish
With your list ready, call us at (305) 440-8070 or request a free quote. Our help with Marketplace applications is free, and your premium is the same as if you enrolled on your own.