With the start of Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment just days away, a growing number of Marketplace enrollees are previewing their 2026 insurance premiums and receiving notifications about changes to their out-of-pocket costs for coverage.
As these changes take shape, most Marketplace enrollees can expect to see higher premiums for ACA plans and, if the enhanced premium tax credits expire at the end of the year, significantly higher out-of-pocket premium payments. Insurers are increasing what they charge for a benchmark plan in the ACA marketplace by an average of 26%. Those premium increases, combined with the fact that enhanced ACA tax credits may expire, mean that the 22 million ACA enrollees who receive those tax credits would see their out-of-pocket premiums rise by 114% next year to keep the same plan, from an average of $888 in 2025 to $1,904 in 2026. These higher costs, combined with having to repay any excess premium credits at tax time, could lead to significant coverage losses and push a growing number of ACA enrollees into bronze and catastrophic health plans with lower premiums and higher deductibles over the coming years, according to a new KFF analysis of key changes to watch in the marketplaces.
ACA open enrollment begins on Saturday, November 1 (in all states except Idaho), and ends on January 15, 2026 (in most states). KFF’s open enrollment resources can help new and returning Marketplace enrollees navigate the latest ACA policy changes:
