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The ACA MarketplaceS

Change in February effectuated enrollment, by state, 2025-2026

How Has ACA Marketplace Enrollment Changed Across States in 2026?

ACA Marketplace enrollment fell this year in every state except New Mexico, which was the only state to fully replace the enhanced premium tax credits that expired last year with a state-funded subsidy, according to a new KFF analysis of effectuated enrollment data. The Marketplace enrollment decline—the first in seven years—follows several years of rapid enrollment growth and coincides with the end of the enhanced federal subsidies.

How Much and Why ACA Marketplace Premiums Are Going Up in 2027

ACA Marketplaces insurers are proposing a median premium increase of 15% in 2027, according to KFF’s updated analysis of 276 insurers with publicly available filings across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This is the second consecutive year of double-digit premium hikes. Last year’s median nationwide proposed rate change was 18%, and the median finalized rate change was 20%. While this proposed rate change is lower than last year, it represents the second-highest requested rate change since 2018, as premium growth had been relatively flat in this market for several years.

About the ACA

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Did the Affordable Care Act Make Health Care More Affordable?

The expiration of the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits at the start of 2026, combined with rising insurer premiums, put a spotlight on health care affordability that extends beyond Marketplace enrollees. KFF’s Cynthia Cox examines the ACA’s record and the broader underlying question it raises: what’s a fair price for Americans people to pay for health care?

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  • Remember the People Outside of the Exchanges

    Perspective

    There has been a substantial amount of focus on the recently released draft regulations governing state-based health insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). And that's appropriate, since the exchanges have the important roles under reform of providing consumers with easier access to insurance and facilitating tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies that make coverage more affordable. But, as central as exchanges will likely be, it's important to remember that there are other key provisions that help…

  • Is a Death Spiral Inevitable If There is No Mandate?

    Perspective

    If the Supreme Court acts within the next couple of weeks to overturn the individual mandate in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) while leaving the rest of the law intact, expect to hear a lot about how the individual insurance market will be destined for a "death spiral." When compared with implementing the ACA in full as planned, there's a consensus that eliminating the mandate would increase premiums and mean that far fewer of the…

  • State Exchange Profiles: Virginia

    Other Post

    Final update made on July 12, 2013 (no further updates will be made) Establishing the Exchange On December 14, 2012, Governor Bob McDonnell (R) informed federal officials that Virginia would not continue to plan for a state-based health insurance exchange.1  Prior to the decision, Governor McDonnell had signed HB 2434 into law declaring the state’s intent to establish a state-based health insurance exchange.2  The legislation was based on a recommendation by the Virginia Health Reform Initiative Advisory…

  • State Exchange Profiles: Alabama

    Other Post

    Final update made on December 4, 2012 (no further updates will be made) Establishing the Exchange Despite previously supporting Alabama’s implementation of a state-based health insurance exchange, Governor Robert Bentley (R) announced on November 13, 2012, the state will default to a federally-facilitated exchange.1 Prior to the decision, Governor Bentley issued Executive Order 17 which created the Alabama Health Insurance Exchange Study Commission to recommend how Alabama should establish a health insurance exchange.2 The Governor appointed…

  • Medicaid and Its Role in State/Federal Budgets & Health Reform

    Fact Sheet

    This chartpack from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured addresses five key questions about the Medicaid program. They include: What is Medicaid and what does it do? What does Medicaid cost and why? What is Medicaid's role in state budgets? What is Medicaid's role in the federal budget? What is Medicaid's role in health reform? Chartpack (.pdf) Related fact sheet: Medicaid and Its Role In State/Federal Budgets and Health Reform

  • Premium Assistance in Medicaid and CHIP: An Overview of Current Options and Implications of the Affordable Care Act

    Issue Brief

    Premium assistance is the use of public funds through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to purchase private coverage. States have pursued premium assistance with varied objectives, including covering parents not otherwise eligible for public coverage and promoting the use of private coverage. Implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage expansions is likely to spark renewed interest in premium assistance options. This brief provides an overview of premium assistance options and examines…

  • The Affordable Care Act: Three Years Post-Enactment

    Issue Brief

    On March 23, 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law. Although the date for full implementation of most provisions of the law is January 1, 2014, the ACA has already led to progress toward expanded coverage of the uninsured; improved access and better care delivery models; broader access to community-based long-term care; and more integrated care and financing for beneficiaries who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. The brief provides an…

  • How is the Affordable Care Act Leading to Changes in Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Today? State Adoption of Six LTSS Options

    Issue Brief

    Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), states are afforded a number of new and expanded opportunities, including enhanced federal financing, to improve access to and delivery of Medicaid long-term services and supports (LTSS). This policy brief provides an overview of six key Medicaid LTSS options created or enhanced by the 2010 law and state adoption of these options to date. Nearly every state (47 states and DC) has taken steps forward with at least one…

  • How Will Consumers Navigate New Health Care Options? Briefing and Panel Discussion

    Event Date:
    Event

    With the open enrollment period for health insurance exchanges less than six months away, consumers are already asking questions about their new health care options under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Even in the age of digital information, hands-on consumer assistance could play a key role in helping people understand their insurance choices come 2014 — a recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll showed that two thirds of the uninsured and a majority of Americans overall…

  • California’s Uninsured on the Eve of ACA Open Enrollment

    Report

    This report presents the findings of a baseline survey of California’s uninsured adult population just before the start of the first open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It will be followed by three other surveys over the course of the next two years that will capture the changing experiences and attitudes of this same group of 2,000 people over time, whether they obtain coverage or remain uninsured. The report analyzes the uninsured…