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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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  • 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…

  • Data Note: Footing the Bill

    Poll Finding

    This brief data note looks at the raft of polls recently released on the public’s willingness to pay for an expansion of coverage to their fellow citizens. It compares and contrasts findings on Americans’ general inclinations on the topic, and also revisits recent findings on specific revenue raising proposals. Data Note (.pdf)

  • Pulling it Together: On Health Reform, Will All Roads Meet in the Middle?

    Perspective

    A few weeks ago a small group of upset single-payer advocates followed Senator Baucus into the parking garage of our D.C. building as he was arriving to do one of our health reform newsmaker breakfasts, cosponsored by Families USA and the National Federation of Independent Business. They were angry because they feel that single payer is not receiving enough attention in the current debate, and it is true that it is not getting a lot…

  • Consumer Choice in Health Care: How Could Reform Affect Our Choices? How Could We Make Better Choices?

    Event Date:
    Event

    The Alliance for Health Reform and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation co-sponsored this event which brought together nationally known health policy experts for a conversation on consumer choice in health care. Panelists addressed the following questions: Why is choice of health care providers important? How much choice do we really have now? How much choice do we need? How might health reform affect our choices? In some instances, do we have too much choice? How…

  • Kaiser Family Foundation Launches New Non-Profit Health Policy News Service

    News Release

    Kaiser Health News Will Provide In-Depth Reporting on Major Health Policy Issues Menlo Park, CA -- In the midst of a major federal health reform debate and the ongoing financial turmoil in the media industry, the Kaiser Family Foundation officially launched Kaiser Health News (KHN) today to provide a new source of in-depth reporting on major health issues. KHN is staffed by experienced health policy journalists and editors, and will feature contributions from a wide…

  • Kaiser Health Tracking Poll – June 2009

    Poll Finding

    The June Kaiser Health Tracking Poll finds remarkable stability in public opinion on health reform as Congressional committees begin to hone in on the details of their health reform bills and debate intensifies. A solid majority of the American people continue to believe that health reform is more important than ever given the country’s economic problems. A solid majority of the American people continue to believe that health reform is more important than ever given…

  • Low-Income Adults Under Age 65 – Many are Poor, Sick, and Uninsured

    Issue Brief

    This policy brief from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured examines the characteristics and insurance coverage of low-income adults under age 65, a group numbering more than 50 million people. Members of this group are more likely to be in poor health than other Americans and are the least likely to have health insurance. Nearly a third are from families earning less than twice the poverty level. Fifteen percent live in poverty. Although…

  • Health Care Reform Newsmaker Series: Sen. Max Baucus

    Event Date:
    Event

    This May 21, 2009 webcast features Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) at a Health Care Reform Newsmaker media briefing sponsored by the Kaiser Family Foundation, Families USA and the National Federation of Independent Business. The reporters-only sessions, designed to inform the public about prospects and options for health reform, feature a short presentation by an influential leader followed by an extended question-and-answer session. Transcript (.pdf) Video

  • Side-by-Side Comparison of Major Health Care Reform Proposals

    Issue Brief

    On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and a week later, signed into law the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, which made some changes to the comprehensive health reform law. Summary of Final Health Care Reform Law (.pdf) Download a printable comparison of the new health reform law (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act), the House-passed Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act…

  • 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…