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Affordable Care Act

About the ACA

Promotional image for KFF video How Affordable is the Affordable Care Act

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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  • As Open Enrollment Begins, KFF’s Updated Subsidy Calculator and 300+ FAQs Demystify ACA Marketplaces

    News Release

    A recent KFF survey found one-in-three people with Marketplace coverage say it is somewhat or very difficult to find a plan that meets their needs. With ACA enrollment beginning November 1, KFF has updated its most-used Marketplace tools and published an explainer on key changes and issues to watch in this year’s open enrollment season. Tools for Open Enrollment>> KFF’s Health Insurance Marketplace Calculator provides estimates of 2024 health insurance premiums and subsidies for people…

  • What to Know About the FDA’s Recent Decision to Allow Florida to Import Prescription Drugs from Canada

    Policy Watch

    Florida’s plan to import certain prescription drugs from Canada represents the first time the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted authority for a state to safely import prescription drugs from another country. This policy watch analysis unpacks some frequently asked questions related to state of Florida’s importation plan, including potential obstacles to implementation, who will benefit from any savings, and what types of drugs will (and will not) qualify for importation.

  • What Trump’s 2024 Victory Means for Medicaid

    Quick Insights

    While Medicaid did not receive a lot of attention during the campaign, if cuts to Social Security and Medicare are largely off the table, Medicaid is the likely source of funding to extend expiring tax cuts.

  • KFF Examines Challenges in Navigating Coverage for Opill, the First Over-the-Counter Daily Oral Contraceptive Pill, Coming to Market Next Year 

    News Release

    As Opill—the first over-the-counter daily oral contraceptive pill in the United States—is expected to be available for purchase in early 2024, new research conducted by KFF examines barriers to its accessibility for consumers and challenges in providing insurance coverage for it. Based on interviews with nearly 80 representatives from private insurance plans, state Medicaid programs, chain pharmacies, and other key groups, the report provides a deeper view into the operational challenges in expanding access to…

  • Recibí un aviso por correo de la agencia de Medicaid en mi estado sobre la renovación de la cobertura. ¿Qué sigue?

    FAQs

    Complete los formularios requeridos y envíe la información solicitada antes de la fecha límite indicada en el aviso. Si necesita ayuda, los navegadores y otros asistentes en cada estado pueden ayudarlo a completar los formularios, reunir los documentos necesarios y responder otras preguntas. En los estados que usan cuidadodesalud.gov, puede encontrar información de contacto de navegadores y asistentes aquí.

  • Standardized Plans in the Health Care Marketplace: Changing Requirements

    Issue Brief

    This brief examines the evolving requirements for insurers on HealthCare.gov to offer standardized plans that follow set cost sharing rules for covered benefits in addition to other plans they might offer. It also reviews how some state-run marketplaces have used standardized plans to limit cost sharing for insulin, mental health care, and other services.

  • About 1 in 20 People with Private Insurance Received Services that Could be Affected by a District Court Ruling Limiting the ACA’s Preventive Services Mandate

    News Release

    A new KFF analysis finds about 1 in 20 privately insured people (5.7%) received at least one ACA preventive service or drug that could be affected by a now-stayed U.S. District Court ruling in Braidwood Management v. Becerra, which found the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) preventive services mandate partially unconstitutional. The district court also found that pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), medication recommended for HIV prevention, violates the religious rights of those who have objections to its…

  • Issue Briefs and Testimony Related to Health Reform

    Issue Brief

    Issue Briefs Related to Health Reform This collection of some of our most recent and relevant issue briefs go beyond the basics to provide concise discussions and analyses of key policy topics related to health reform. For a more complete collection of all the Foundation's health reform resources, click here.Health Reform Roundtables: Charting A Course Forward Health Reform Roundtables: Charting A Course Forward is a series of discussions among federal officials, state officials and outside…

  • New NPR/Kaiser/Harvard Poll Examines Public’s Views of the Role of Health Care Interest Groups in the Health Care Debate

    Poll Finding

    This survey conducted jointly by NPR, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Harvard School of Public Health examines the public’s views and opinions of the role of health care interest groups in the ongoing federal health care debate. The survey examines whether people feel their views are represented in the ongoing legislative process and their level of trust in different groups. The survey is part of a series of projects about health-related issues by NPR,…