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

2,451 - 2,460 of 2,780 Results

  • The U.S. Economy and Changes in Health Insurance Coverage, 2000-2006

    Other Post

    Health Affairs Article: The U.S. Economy and Changes in Health Insurance Coverage, 2000-2006 A Foundation study featured as a web-exclusive Health Affairs article examines health coverage trends from 2000-2006 showing that over this period the dominant factor contributing to a rise in the uninsured population has been the decline in employer-sponsored insurance, even as the economy rebounded from the last recession. Access web-exclusive Health Affairs article

  • The Fraying Link Between Work and Health Insurance: Trends in Employer-Sponsored Insurance for Employees, 2000-2007

    Report

    This analysis shows that employer-sponsored coverage began declining after 2000 due to an economic downturn that saw rising unemployment, declining family incomes and more workers moving into temporary work, part-time work and other employment arrangements where health benefits were not provided. Employer-sponsored coverage continued to decline after 2003 despite improvements in the economy and slower growth in health care costs. The decline in coverage was due both to falloffs in the share of employees with…

  • Pulling it Together from Drew Altman: Multiple Agendas for Controlling Health Care Costs

    Perspective

    In what would be a domestic policy trifecta, we may be headed for interconnected big debates about economic recovery, entitlement programs and health reform. A core issue in the entitlement and health reform debates is the problem of rising health care costs. President Obama, now apparently fully briefed on the economic, budget and health reform realities he faces, is talking conspicuously about hard choices that may lie ahead. In a short period of time the…

  • In Depth Analysis of Health Reform Issues

    Report

    These reports provide in-depth analysis related to the health reform debate. Additional reports will be added as they become available. Medicaid Expansion in Health Reform: National and State Estimates of Coverage and CostsThis analysis and public briefing examine the potential national and state-by-state impacts on Medicaid enrollment and spending of the expansion of coverage for low-income adults under the health reform law. Reform Calculator Estimates Premiums and Subsidies Available In 2014The Foundation's interactive health reform…

  • Explaining Health Care Reform: How Might a Reform Plan Be Financed?

    Issue Brief

    One of the key challenges in enacting a health care reform plan is how to finance it among government, employers, and individuals. Of particular concern to policymakers is what effect a health reform plan would have on government spending and the federal budget. President Obama and Congressional leaders have said that any health reform plan should not add to the budget deficit over a 10 year period. This brief explains the likely sources of added…

  • Health Reform: Lessons From Massachusetts

    Event Date:
    Event

    As Congress debates comprehensive national health reform, the Kaiser Family Foundation has two reports and an updated fact sheet that examine state-level health reform in Massachusetts and the lessons it offers for policymakers in Washington. Consumers’ Experience in Massachusetts: Lessons For National Health Reform and In Pursuit of Affordable Health Care: On the Ground Lessons from Families in Massachusetts, examine the impact of health reform on the lives of ordinary people in the state, including…

  • Health Reform and Communities of Color: Implications for Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

    Issue Brief

    This issue brief examines the key provisions of the 2010 health reform law that will expand health coverage and are likely to improve access to care for people of color, as well as some of the other provisions that will likely have either a direct or indirect impact on health disparities. Issue Brief (.pdf)) Previous Version: November 2009 (.pdf)

  • Quick Take: Geographic Variation in Dual Eligible Enrollment

    Fact Sheet

    Over 9 million elderly Americans and younger persons with disabilities are jointly enrolled in the Medicaid and Medicare programs.  These “dual eligibles” receive coverage for most medical services from Medicare, and they also receive Medicaid assistance for Medicare premiums and cost-sharing and coverage of benefits not offered under Medicare (such as long-term care).  Dual eligibles are among the sickest and poorest individuals covered by Medicare and Medicaid and, as a group, account for a disproportionate…

  • A Focus Group with Medicaid Directors: As FY 2012 Ends, Looking Toward FY 2013

    Report

    This report is based on a focus group discussion in May 2012 with the Executive Board of the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) and other leading Medicaid directors. The group of nine directors reflected perspectives from various regions of the country. The discussion focused on state fiscal conditions, Medicaid spending and enrollment trends, key Medicaid policy changes and federal health care reform implementation. At the time of the meeting, most states were wrapping up…

  • Faces of the Medicaid Expansion: Experiences and Profiles of Uninsured Adults Who Could Gain Coverage

    Issue Brief

    These two papers provide insight into how state decisions to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act are likely to impact people. Based on focus groups and interviews conducted in Cincinnati, Houston, Las Vegas and Tampa with uninsured adults who could be eligible for the Medicaid expansion in 2014, these papers highlight the experiences of uninsured adults and the significant health and financial consequences of being uninsured, which sometimes impact their ability to work and…