Subsidies - Research and Data from KFF

Two New Analyses: House COVID-19 Relief Plan Would Temporarily Lower Marketplace Premiums for Millions and More than Offset Short-Term State Costs to Expand Their Medicaid Programs

Feb 18, 2021

News Release

The House COVID-19 relief proposal would temporarily lower what millions of Marketplace enrollees and uninsured potential enrollees would pay toward premiums and would provide states that have not expanded their Medicaid programs a financial boost that would more than offset their costs initially, two new KFF analyses find.

Understanding the Health Insurance Marketplaces

Oct 25, 2024

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These resources are for anyone shopping (or helping someone shop) for health coverage within the health insurance marketplaces created through the Affordable Care Act (also known as the ACA or Obamacare.)

How Many of the Uninsured Can Purchase a Marketplace Plan for Free in 2020?

Dec 10, 2019

Issue Brief

This analysis looks at how many of the remaining uninsured are eligible for premium subsidies that are large enough to cover the entire cost of a bronze plan, which is the minimum level of coverage available on the Marketplaces. It estimates 28% of uninsured individuals who could shop on the ACA Marketplace, or 4.7 million people nationwide, are eligible to purchase a bronze plan with $0 premiums after subsidies in 2020.

Five Things to Know about the Renewal of Extra Affordable Care Act Subsidies in the Inflation Reduction Act

Aug 11, 2022

Policy Watch

As part of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Senate recently passed a three-year extension (through 2025) of enhanced subsidies for people buying their own health coverage on the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces. The enhanced subsidies increase the amount of financial help available to those already eligible and also newly expand subsidies to middle-income people, many of whom were previously priced out of coverage. Here’s what to know about the likely renewal of these subsidies:

About 5 Million Uninsured People Could Get ACA Marketplace Coverage Without a Monthly Premium – But They Would Have to Enroll Soon

Jan 10, 2023

News Release

About 5 million uninsured people across the country could get coverage through an Affordable Care Act Marketplace health plan with virtually no monthly premium if they enroll soon, a new KFF analysis finds. In most states, open enrollment runs through January 15, with tax credits available to help eligible low- and middle-income people afford coverage.

2017 Premium Changes and Insurer Participation in the Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance Marketplaces

Nov 1, 2016

Issue Brief

This brief analyzes 2017 Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace data on premium and insurer participation, including data made available through Healthcare.gov on October 24, 2017, as well as data collected from states that run their own exchange websites.

Among People Ineligible for Subsidies, Middle-Class Older Adults Face the Least Affordable ACA Premiums, Especially Those Living in Rural Areas Where Premiums Are Highest

Mar 5, 2019

News Release

A new KFF analysis finds that Affordable Care Act marketplace premiums are least affordable for older adults who earn too much to qualify for federal subsidies, especially those living in rural areas where premiums are highest.

How the American Rescue Plan Act Affects Subsidies for Marketplace Shoppers and People Who Are Uninsured

Mar 25, 2021

Issue Brief

This brief uses data from the American Community Survey (ACS) to provide estimates of eligibility for and the amount of financial assistance to purchase Marketplace coverage under the ARPA among both current individual market purchasers, as well as Marketplace-eligible uninsured people.

Signing Up for Marketplace Coverage Remains a Challenge for Many Consumers

Oct 30, 2023

Policy Watch

As open enrollment begins for Marketplace plans, this Policy Watch provides information about consumer experiences with Marketplace sign up from the 2023 KFF Consumer Survey. Data from the survey show that Marketplace sign up has been a challenge to many consumers---often more complicated than enrollment in other kinds of health insurance. The Policy Watch also spotlights efforts to address common enrollment problems such as option overload and transitioning to Marketplace coverage from other forms of coverage.

8 Things to Watch for the 2026 ACA Open Enrollment Period

Oct 28, 2025

Issue Brief

The ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment season begins November 1, and with it comes looming changes to the enhanced premium tax credits, increases in out-of-pocket premium payments, new Marketplace eligibility rules, and more. Read our analysis of what these and other changes could mean for new and returning enrollees.

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