Home Affordable Care Act Topics

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.

Latest News

More KFF Health News

Stay informed.

Get KFF's latest on the Affordable Care Act

Stay informed.

Get KFF's
latest on the Affordable
Care Act

https://js.hsforms.net/forms/embed/292449.js

View the Latest: Affordable Care Act

Filter

List Grid

2,341 - 2,350 of 2,780 Results

  • State Exchange Profiles: North Dakota

    Other Post

    Final update made on December 11, 2012 (no further updates will be made) Establishing the Exchange In November 2012, Governor Jack Dalrymple (R) announced that North Dakota was not planning a state exchange.1 In the previous year, North Dakota had explored the possibility of a state-based exchange, spurred in part by enacted legislation stating North Dakota’s intent to create a health insurance exchange.2 The Insurance Department collected stakeholder feedback and identified a vendor to analyze the state’s…

  • State Exchange Profiles: Ohio

    Other Post

    Final update made on March 25, 2013 (no further updates will be made) Establishing the Exchange On November 16, 2012, Governor John Kasich (R) notified federal officials that Ohio would default to a federally-facilitated exchange; however, the state would maintain regulatory control over its insurance industry.1 The Governor also indicated Ohio would maintain control over Medicaid eligibility determinations. Prior to the announcement, the Department of Insurance in collaboration with other stakeholder agencies solicited subcontractors’ assistance for…

  • State Exchange Profiles: South Dakota

    Other Post

    Final update made on April 19, 2013 (no further updates will be made)  Establishing the Exchange On September 26, 2012, Governor Dennis Daugaard (R) announced that South Dakota would not establish an exchange.1However, the state intends to maintain regulatory authority over the health insurance market and perform the plan management function for the exchange.2 The decision to have a federally-facilitated exchange was made after an inter-agency work group and a taskforce of stakeholders and legislators explored…

  • State Exchange Profiles: Oklahoma

    Other Post

    Final update made on December 13, 2012 (no further updates will be made) Establishing the Exchange  On November 19, 2012, Governor Mary Fallin (R) announced that Oklahoma would not pursue the creation of a state-based health insurance exchange.1 Prior to the announcement, Oklahoma had established the Joint Committee on Federal Health Care Law to explore the state’s options regarding federal health reform, including exchange implementation in the state.2 The Joint Committee convened in 2011 and released final exchange…

  • State Marketplace Profiles: Washington

    Other Post

    Final update made on November 22, 2013 (no further updates will be made) Establishing the Marketplace On May 11, 2011, Governor Christine Gregoire (D) signed SB 5445 into law establishing the Washington Health Benefit Exchange (HBE).1  Additional legislation signed by the Governor in March 2012, removed limitations on the Board’s governing authority over the Marketplace (HB 2319).2  In October 2012, the state announced that the online Marketplace would be called Washington Healthplanfinder. Structure: The legislation defines Washington’s Marketplace…

  • State Marketplace Profiles: Idaho

    Other Post

    Final update made on October 3, 2013 (no further updates will be made) Establishing the Marketplace On December 11, 2012, Governor C.L. Otter (R) announced Idaho’s commitment to the establishment of a State-based health insurance Marketplace and on March 28, 2013 signed into law legislation (HB248) creating the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange.1 2  In August 2013, the state announced that the online marketplace would be called Your Health Idaho.3  While the Governor had previously signed an Executive…

  • State Marketplace Profiles: Massachusetts

    Other Post

    Final update made on September 29, 2013 (no further updates will be made) Establishing the Marketplace On April 12, 2006, former Governor Mitt Romney (R) signed into law comprehensive health reform legislation designed to provide near-universal health coverage for state residents.1  The Massachusetts health reform law became the model for national health reform. An important component of the law was the creation of the Massachusetts Health Connector, a health insurance marketplace that manages several coverage programs.…

  • State Exchange Profiles: Nebraska

    Other Post

    Final update made on December 19, 2013 (no further updates will be made) Establishing the Exchange On November 15, 2012, Governor Dave Heineman (R) announced that Nebraska would not establish a health insurance exchange.1Earlier in 2012, the Nebraska legislature introduced two bills (LB 835 and LB 838) to establish a health insurance exchange in Nebraska, however both failed when the legislative session concluded in April.2,3 In 2011, Governor Heineman signed LB 22 into law, which…

  • State Marketplace Profiles: Michigan

    Other Post

    Final update made on November 26, 2013 (no further updates will be made) Establishing the Marketplace While Governor Rick Snyder (R) supports the creation of a State-based Marketplace, he acknowledged on November 16, 2012, that without authorizing legislation, he would plan for a State-federal Partnership Marketplace.1  The state began moving in the direction of a partnership in August 2012 due to legislative opposition that left the state unable to meet the federal timetable for implementation.2  Michigan will…

  • State Exchange Profiles: Tennessee

    Other Post

    Final update made on December 10, 2012 (no further updates will be made) Establishing the Exchange On December 10, 2012, Governor Bill Haslam (R) announced Tennessee would default to a federally-facilitated health insurance exchange.1 Prior to the announcement that the state would not operate its own exchange, the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration established the Insurance Exchange Planning Initiative to advise the Governor and Legislature on exchange implementation. The Initiative worked closely with a…