Cuyahoga County Shoppers Face New ID Checks as ACA Enrollment Begins

Open enrollment for Affordable Care Act health insurance begins Monday, Nov. 1, for residents in Cuyahoga County and most other states. Shoppers will face new identity verification requirements, premium increases, and reduced access to certain brokers as they seek coverage for 2027. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced these changes to target fraud and improper enrollments in the federal marketplace.

The federal marketplace serves 29 states, including Ohio. New rules require consumers using agents or brokers to receive a one-time confirmation code or link via text, email, or phone call. This step authorizes a specific agent to enroll them or make changes on their behalf. Consumers designated as high-risk must also verify their identity through a CMS-approved third party, such as Experian. High-risk status applies to first-time applicants, those changing states, and consumers working with a new agent or paying a monthly premium of $30 or less.

Joshua Brooker, an insurance agency owner in Pennsylvania, noted that the rules target groups prone to impersonation. He warned that up to one in five consumers may need extra identity proofing, which could cause some to give up on getting insured. Stacey Pogue, a senior research fellow at Georgetown University, said the changes might create extra hurdles for people without credit files or those who have changed names.

A moratorium on new brokers also takes effect this year. Agents not registered with the federal marketplace in 2026 cannot assist with 2027 enrollments until February, after the open enrollment season ends. Jason Fine, a Florida brokerage owner, said the rule makes it difficult for small agencies to hire new staff. He added that larger call centers, which maintain year-round staff, may benefit from the shift. Two industry groups filed lawsuits in October against the administration over this moratorium.

Premiums for 2027 are expected to rise by 15 percent, slightly lower than the 26 percent increase seen last year. Most shoppers will still receive subsidies, though less generous than those available before enhanced subsidies expired at the end of 2025. Subsidies are based on income, cutting off for households earning more than four times the federal poverty rate. For a single person, that limit is $63,840.

The out-of-pocket maximum for individual plans will rise 13 percent to $12,000 in 2027, while family plans will see the cap increase to $24,000. Louise Norris, a health policy analyst, advised consumers to compare premiums and coverage rather than letting plans auto-renew. She noted that the out-of-pocket cap increase affects affordability for many households.