Staying covered for 2027:

No one plans to get sick or hurt, but it happens. Health insurance protects you and your family from the unexpected. Even with these changes, the good news is you can keep your health insurance through CoverME.gov in 2027. However, we do anticipate some price increases. You have options for staying covered and we’ll do our best to support you through any increases.

• Free, local help is available. Work with a Broker or Maine Enrollment Assister to see plans in your budget that meet your health needs.

• Find and compare plans with our Plan Comparison Tool. It's the easiest way to compare plan benefits and costs side-by-side. Changing plans? Check that your providers and medications are still covered.

• Pay attention to “Clear Choice” plans. When using the Plan Comparison Tool, check the box next to “Clear Choice” under “Plan Features” in the left column. Even if you choose a Clear Choice plan with a high deductible, you will get a lot of everyday health care services covered with just a copay (typically $25-$80). This includes primary care and behavioral health visits, urgent care, chiropractic services, occupational, physical and speech therapy, and generic prescription drugs. All Clear Choice plans (except the Bronze plans with a $7,000 deductible) also cover specialist visits for $30-$45 per visit, and brand-name prescription drugs (typically $50-$250 for a month’s supply, depending on the medication). 

All plans on CoverME.gov provide high-quality, comprehensive coverage. All plans have significant pre-deductible coverage: 100% preventive care, and at least 3 primary care and behavioral health visits. All plans cover the ten Essential Health Benefits.

Here's what you need to know:

What happened?

In July 2025, the federal government passed the budget reconciliation bill H.R. 1 (also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act). H.R. 1 changed who can get financial help through marketplaces like CoverME.gov. Most immigrant groups won’t be allowed to get financial assistance through CoverME.gov anymore. This includes the main savings on CoverME.gov, the premium tax credit. These tax credits lower the amount eligible consumers pay each month for their health coverage.

Individuals with three types of immigration status can still get financial assistance in 2027. Lawful permanent residents (LPRs/green card holders), Compact of Free Association (COFA) Migrants, and Cuban-Haitian entrants can still qualify for financial assistance. If you don’t have citizenship or one of these three immigration statuses, your 2027 health insurance plan will cost full price.

Who is affected?

You cannot get financial assistance in 2027 if your immigration status disqualifies you. If you have one of the following types of visas or immigration statuses, this federal law change likely impacts you and the cost of your CoverME.gov coverage in 2027: People granted asylum status, refugees, survivors of trafficking (T visa), individuals with Temporary Protected Status, individuals with work visas, and student visa holders. 

If you’re affected, we cannot offer you financial assistance in 2027. You can still buy health insurance through CoverME.gov, but you will need to pay full price for your monthly bill (your premium).

It is possible that the immigration information we have about you is inaccurate. Please review the information we have about you in your CoverME.gov account.

Who is not affected? Lawful permanent residents, Compact of Free Association Migrants, and Cuban-Haitian entrants. People in these groups can still qualify for financial assistance.

What should I do?

Log in to your CoverME.gov account between November 1 and December 15, 2026. Review the information we have about you. Confirm that your immigration status is accurate. Update your application if you have any changes to make (find instructions in our How-To Guide). Review plan options based on your budget and health needs.

If you do nothing, you will be re-enrolled in your current plan at your new price. You have until December 15, 2026 to change your plan for coverage starting on January 1, 2027. You have until December 31, 2026 to cancel your plan, but you won't have coverage starting in January 2027 if you cancel.

What happens if I do nothing?

If you do nothing, you will be re-enrolled in your current plan at your new price. This price may be significantly higher than what you paid in 2026. Your health insurance company, not CoverME.gov, will bill you at your new price on January 1, 2027. 

You have until December 15, 2026 to change your plan if you want different coverage on January 1, 2027.

You have until December 31, 2026 to cancel your plan, but you won't have coverage in January 2027 if you cancel.

You have until January 15, 2027 to change your plan if you want different coverage on February 1, 2027.

How did CoverME.gov get my immigration status?

CoverME.gov compares the information we have from your most recent application with electronic data sources. If you think our information might be wrong, update your application so we have your current immigration information. You can do this online or by calling the CoverME.gov Consumer Assistance Center.

What does “eligible non-citizen" (ENC) mean?

“Eligible non-citizen" is a sub-category of lawfully present immigrants. Federal law restricts eligibility for many public benefits, including MaineCare and financial help through CoverME.gov, to lawfully present immigrants who have an “eligible non-citizen" status. Beginning in 2027, federal law is changing: only Lawful Permanent Residents, Compact of Free Association migrants, and Cuban-Haitian entrants are considered “eligible non-citizens.” Because of this change in federal law, only those three immigration statuses will be eligible for financial help through CoverME.gov. Most other lawfully present immigration statuses will qualify to buy coverage through CoverME.gov’s Marketplace, but won’t be able to access federal savings like premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions.

Can I still buy health coverage through CoverME.gov in 2027?

Yes, it's likely. These changes are for financial assistance only.

To find and buy a health insurance plan through CoverME.gov, you must be:

• A Maine resident, and
• A U.S. citizen, a national, or a lawfully present non-citizen; and reasonably expects to be a U.S. citizen, a national, or a lawfully present non-citizen for the entire period for which enrollment is sought, and
• Not incarcerated (unless pending disposition of charges).

Maine residents can also qualify if they are temporarily residing elsewhere, such as for school or a temporary job. If you are unsure if you qualify to enroll in health coverage, contact CoverME.gov’s Consumer Assistance Center.

How much will my plan cost in 2027? What’s my new monthly bill?

Starting on November 1, 2026, you can see your 2027 premium in your CoverME.gov account. First, update your account, including your immigration status. Then view the "Enrollments" section of your account. You will see your pending 2027 plan with your 2027 monthly premium (your monthly price). 

Before November 1, use our Plan Comparison Tool to estimate your 2027 price.

On or after November 1, if you're logged in to your CoverME.gov account when you use the Plan Comparison Tool, you'll see your full-price plans. This means plan prices based on your updated eligibility determination for 2027.

You can also use the Plan Comparison Tool anonymously. If you do, make sure to check the box "No thanks, I don't want to see if I qualify" when asked if you want to see if you qualify for financial assistance. This will let you see your true plan costs.

We’re here to help.

Coverage matters: health insurance through CoverME.gov provides peace of mind and financial protection.

If you have questions about these changes or need help updating your application, give us a call. Contact CoverME.gov’s Consumer Assistance Center at 1-866-636-0355 TTY: 711. For languages other than English, press 4.

You can also work with a free, local expert. Brokers and Maine Enrollment Assisters can explain your options and help you stay covered. Visit the Find Local Help page to find a broker or Enrollment Assister near you.

• Maine’s Consumers for Affordable Health Care operates a state-wide HelpLine. They can answer questions about eligibility for health insurance. They can assist with completing a CoverME.gov application. They can help explain your options and help you stay covered. They can provide other resources to get health care you can afford. Reach them at 1-800-965-7476 TTY: 771 or visit www.mainecahc.org.
• MaineHealth Access to Care is available and provides medication assistance, health insurance support, community resource navigation, and non-clinical case management. Reach them at 207-661-5500.
  • MaineHealth Access to Care supports Cumberland County, Franklin County, Knox County, Lincoln County, Oxford County, Waldo County, York County, and Sagadahoc County (Sagadahoc County limited to those receiving care at MidCoast MaineHealth locations) 
• The Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) can help you navigate these federal law changes impacting your access to affordable health insurance. For more information or to schedule an appointment with ILAP, visit www.ilapmaine.org/get-legal-help, or call them at (207) 780-1593.