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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?

The ACA MarketplaceS

In Preliminary Rate Filings, ACA Marketplace Insurers Largely Propose Double-Digit Premium Increase For 2027, Following a Steep Climb This Year 

ACA Marketplace insurers are proposing a median premium increase of 14% for 2027— indicating a likely second consecutive year of double-digit increases, according to a new analysis of preliminary rate filings in 16 states and DC. If these increases hold, typical premiums for insurers participating in the ACA Marketplaces would jump by more than one-third between 2025 and 2027.

The Average Marketplace Deductible Grew by About $1,000 Per Person in 2026, With More Enrollees Shifting to Higher-Deductible Plans as Enhanced Tax Credits Expired

The average Affordable Care Act (ACA) 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.

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  • What Paul Ryan’s Stance on 2016 Means for Health Care

    From Drew Altman

    In this column for The Wall Street Journal's Think Tank, Drew Altman discusses the implications of Paul Ryan’s decision to rule out being drafted as a Republican presidential candidate for the 2017 health care agenda and how it could focus greater attention on proposals to change Medicare and Medicaid along with the Affordable Care Act.

  • The Affordable Care Act After Six Years

    News Release

    In his latest column for The Wall Street Journal’s Think Tank, Drew Altman examines the role of the Affordable Care Act in the health system on its sixth anniversary, and how the hot debate about the law may have created an exaggerated impression of the good and the bad it can do. All previous Drew Altman columns are online.

  • Contraceptive-Only Plans: Questions and Answers

    Perspective

    In this post on The Huffington Post, Alina Salganicoff and Laurie Sobel offer a Q&A on “contraceptive-only” plans, an approach mentioned during oral arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court case Zubik v. Burwell. In the Zubik case, a group of religiously affiliated nonprofits with religious objections to providing birth control coverage seek an exemption from the Affordable Care Act's provision requiring most plans to offer such coverage without cost-sharing.

  • How Pending Health-Related Lawsuits Could be Impacted by the Incoming Trump Administration

    Issue Brief

    This brief provides an overview of current lawsuits in health policy including preventive services, abortion care, gender affirming care, Medicare drug price negotiations, nursing home staffing rules, private coverage consumer protections, and protections and health coverage for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients; how they may be affected by the incoming Trump administration; and the implications of their potential outcomes.

  • With or Without ACA Repeal, ACA and Medicaid Cuts are Looming

    Perspective

    In this JAMA Health Forum post, Executive Vice President Larry Levitt explores why the incoming Trump administration and Republican majorities in Congress are likely to pursue budget cuts in Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act and why such efforts are likely to boost the number of uninsured Americans.

  • Compare the Candidates on Health Care Policy

    Feature

    The side-by-side comparison tool provides a quick overview of former President Trump's and Vice President Harris' records, positions, public statements, and proposed policies on a range of key health care topics.

  • ¿Dónde puedo obtener ayuda con mi solicitud del mercado?

    FAQs

    Todos los mercados de seguros deben ofrecer programas de "Navegadores" para ayudar a los consumidores a revisar sus opciones de planes, completar su solicitud de ayuda asistencia financiera, incluyendo ayuda para solicitar Medicaid o CHIP. Los navegadores también pueden ayudar con otros procesos, por ejemplo, cuando el consumidor quiere apelar las decisiones del mercado. Los navegadores reciben su remuneración del mercado, no de los planes de salud, y deben completar la capacitación en el mercado…

  • ¿Ser lesbiana, gay, bisexual o transgénero (LGBT) afecta mi cobertura y opciones de seguro médico? ¿Qué pasa si estoy casado con mi pareja del mismo sexo?

    FAQs

    No se le puede rechazar ni cobrar más por ser lesbiana, gay, bisexual o transgénero. Tampoco se le puede negar la cobertura ni cobrarle más por una condición de salud preexistente, como su estatus serológico respecto al VIH. Las aseguradoras no pueden establecer límites anuales ni de por vida sobre cuánto gastarán en su atención médica. Además, los programas de salud que reciben fondos federales, como los planes del mercado de seguros, Medicaid y Medicare,…

  • ¿Hay momentos especiales para inscribirse en el mercado para las personas que han perdido Medicaid o CHIP?

    FAQs

    En los estados que usan cuidadodesalud.gov, el período especial de inscripción actual debido a la pérdida de Medicaid o CHIP se extenderá de 60 a 90 días. Esto significa que los consumidores tendrán hasta 90 días después de la pérdida de esos beneficios para inscribirse en el mercado de seguros. En los mercados de seguros estatales, el período especial de inscripción tras la pérdida de la cobertura de Medicaid o CHIP es de 90 días;…