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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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  • What happens if I get care from a doctor who isn’t in my plan’s network?

    FAQs

    In general, plans are not required to cover care received from an out-of-network (OON) provider. For example, if you choose to visit a primary care doctor that is not in your plan’s provider network, your insurer might not pay any of the bill, or if they do, you might have much higher cost-sharing than if you had chosen to see an in-network provider. In these situations, the health care provider or facility might send you…

  • The insurance my employer offers is not affordable, so I enrolled in a Marketplace policy with premium tax credits. However, I later got a part-time job and now my annual income will be higher than I or...

    FAQs

    First, you should report your income change to the Marketplace as soon as possible. The Marketplace will determine your new eligibility for premium tax credits based on your higher income and adjust the amount of tax credits going forward. If you make this adjustment promptly, it’s likely you won’t receive any more advanced premium tax credit during the entire year than you’re eligible for based on your annual income. As for the new “affordability” of…

  • My child goes to college in another state, but we want him on our Marketplace family plan. Can we do that?

    FAQs

    Yes. Your child can join your Marketplace family plan, even if they live out of state. However, your child may need to return home to access care within your plan’s provider network. If they get health care services in another state, the provider may be outside your plan’s network, and you may have to pay higher cost sharing for non-emergency services. Your child may be eligible to buy coverage in the state where they attend…

  • I bought emergency contraception over-the-counter (OTC) at my pharmacy and thought it would be covered by my insurance, but I ended up having to pay the full cost out-of-pocket. Why wasn’t it cove...

    FAQs

    Emergency contraception is one of the FDA-approved methods for women that must be covered by most health plans, including those sold on the Marketplace, but it has to be prescribed by a health care provider in order for most insurance plans to cover it. If you don’t have a prescription, you will likely have to pay the full cost out-of-pocket. However, you can ask your provider (or pharmacist if your state allows it) for a prescription…

  • I learned that my Medicaid coverage has ended. What do I do now?

    FAQs

    If you lose Medicaid but think you still qualify, contact your Medicaid agency. If your coverage ended less than 90 days ago, you may be able to submit any required forms and documents and have your coverage reinstated. If your coverage ended more than 90 days ago, you will likely need to reapply for Medicaid. If the Medicaid agency says you are no longer eligible for Medicaid but you believe that decision was made in…

  • I notice Marketplace plans are labeled “Bronze,” “Silver,” “Gold,” and “Platinum.” What does that mean?

    FAQs

    Plans in the Marketplace are separated into categories — Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum — based on the amount of cost sharing they require. Cost sharing refers to health plan deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. For most covered services, you will have to pay some of the cost, at least until you reach the annual out-of-pocket limit on cost sharing. Preventive health services, however, are covered without cost-sharing. In the Marketplace, Bronze plans have the highest…

  • Can I buy a plan in the Marketplace if I don’t have a green card?

    FAQs

    Potentially, yes. You must be a lawfully present immigrant who is eligible for coverage, such as a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), certain types of visa holders, or a refugee or asylee. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is no longer considered an eligible immigration status for health coverage through the Marketplaces. You can find more information about qualifying statuses here.   You can also shop for health insurance outside of the Marketplace in…

  • I am having trouble setting up a Marketplace account online. The Marketplace website says that it cannot verify my identity. What should I do now?

    FAQs

    Some consumers with little or no credit history, such as young adults or recent immigrants, may have difficulty setting up accounts on HealthCare.gov. That is because the federal Marketplace uses real-time identity proofing techniques to protect consumers from unauthorized access to their personal information and to prevent fraud.  First, you should check to make sure you have entered all information requested in order to create an account, including information labeled as optional. If this does not…

  • How much are the cost-sharing reductions?

    FAQs

    It depends on your household income and where you live. To give a general idea, a typical Silver plan might have an annual out-of-pocket maximum on all cost sharing of $10,600 in 2026. But if your income is between 100% and 150% of the federal poverty level ($15,650 to $23,475 annually for a single individual in 2026), the cost-sharing reductions will modify a Silver plan so that the annual out-of-pocket maximum on all cost sharing…