Affordable Care Act

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?

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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  • State Exchange Profiles: Louisiana

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    Final update made on December 13, 2012 (no further updates will be made) Establishing the Exchange Governor Bobby Jindal (R) announced that Louisiana will not pursue the establishment of a state-based health insurance exchange and instead will allow the federal government to operate an exchange in the state.1 While a bill establishing an exchange was introduced in the 2012 legislative session, it was not supported by the Governor and failed when the legislative session ended (SB…

  • State Marketplace Profiles: Colorado

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    Final update made on November 8, 2013 (no further updates will be made)  Establishing the Marketplace On June 1, 2011, Governor John Hickenlooper (D) signed SB 11-200 into law, establishing the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange.1  In January 2013, the Exchange announced that the online Marketplace would be called Connect for Health Colorado (C4HCO). Structure: The legislation defines Colorado’s Marketplace as a quasi-governmental organization, specifically a "nonprofit unincorporated public entity." Governance: The Marketplace is governed by a 12-member board.…

  • State Exchange Profiles: Virginia

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    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: South Dakota

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    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: Utah

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    Final update made on May 21, 2013 (no further updates will be made)  Establishing the Exchange After making health system reform one of the state’s top policy priorities, Utah’s former Governor Jon Huntsman (R) signed legislation in 2008 (HB 133) and 2009 (HB 188) which directed the Office of Consumer Health Services to create the Utah Health Exchange.1  Current Governor Gary Herbert (R) signed into law additional legislation amending provisions related to health system reform in…

  • State Exchange Profiles: Indiana

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    Final update made on December 13, 2012 (no further updates will be made)  Establishing the Exchange In November 2012, Governor-elect Mike Pence (R) announced that he would not move forward with setting up a state-based health insurance exchange when he takes office in 2013.1 During his term, Governor Mitch Daniels (R) had signed Executive Order #11-01 in 2011 to conditionally establish and operate the Indiana Insurance Market, Inc., a nonprofit corporation to serve as the…

  • State Exchange Profiles: Arizona

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    Final update made on December 4, 2012 (no further updates will be made) Establishing the Exchange  On November 28, 2012, Governor Jan Brewer (R) informed federal officials that Arizona would default to a federally-facilitated health insurance exchange.1 Prior to her decision to default, the Governor had established the Office of Health Insurance Exchange to “organize the health insurance marketplace for easier evaluation by individuals and small businesses to acquire affordable health insurance.”2 While legislation establishing a…

  • State Exchange Profiles: New Jersey

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    Final update made on December 10, 2012 (no further updates will be made) Establishing the Exchange  On December 7, 2012, Governor Chris Christie (R) vetoed A 3186/S 2135, which would have established a health insurance exchange within the Department of Banking and Insurance and announced that the state would default to a federal exchange.1Governor Chris Christie (R) vetoed similar legislation earlier in 2012.2 In 2011, the New Jersey Interagency Working Group on the ACA, led…

  • State Exchange Profiles: Oklahoma

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    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 Exchange Profiles: Georgia

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    Final update made on December 11, 2012 (no further updates will be made) Establishing the Exchange On November 16, 2012, Governor Nathan Deal (R) announced that the Georgia had stopped planning for an exchange.1 In the previous year Governor Deal issued an Executive Order to create the Georgia Health Exchange Advisory Committee to assess whether and how Georgia should establish a health benefit exchange.2 The 25-member Committee included state officials, insurers, brokers, business representatives, consumers, and providers.3 The…