For the fourth in his “Untold KFF History” series, KFF’s Founding President and CEO Dr. Drew Altman discusses KFF’s polling partnerships with major news organizations — a practice that began with the Washington Post in 1995, with whom KFF has now conducted 37 major survey projects, and has since become central to KFF, helping to “magnify our polling by bringing together survey data, in-depth journalism and storytelling.”

The average Affordable Care Act Marketplace deductible experienced the steepest increase in history — growing by 37% or over $1,000, from $2,759 in 2025 to $3,786 in 2026 as enhanced premium tax credits expired, according to a new KFF analysis. After the enhanced tax credits ended, many Marketplace shoppers shifted toward lower-premium, higher-deductible plans.