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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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  • Can I be charged higher premiums in the Marketplace if I smoke? Do e-cigarettes count?

    FAQs

    In most states, yes. Generally, an insurer can charge you up to 50% more if you have used tobacco products four or more times per week on average during the past 6 months. This is called a tobacco surcharge. For example, if the premium for somebody your age (before any tax credits are applied) would otherwise be $200 per month, if you are a tobacco user, your premium could be increased to $300 per month.…

  • I received a Form 1095-B in the mail. What’s that?

    FAQs

    Health insurance companies, certain employer-sponsored health plans, and public health programs such as Medicaid may provide you with documentation indicating the months during the prior year when you were covered under the plan. Coverage providers may send Form 1095-B directly to you, but in some cases, you may have to request a Form 1095-B from the coverage provider. If you were enrolled in family coverage, Form 1095-B will indicate the names of all family members who were…

  • I signed up for Marketplace coverage last year and I want to keep this plan for another year. Do I have to do anything during Open Enrollment?

    FAQs

    You may automatically be re-enrolled in your plan, but even if you like your current plan, it is strongly advised that you take steps to actively renew it during Open Enrollment. If you receive a premium tax credit, when you actively renew you can also update your income and family information and see how much tax credit you may be eligible for based on the new premiums for the coming year. Even if your circumstances…

  • What happens if I get care from a doctor who isn’t in my plan’s network?

    FAQs

    In general, plans are not required to cover care received from an out-of-network (OON) provider. For example, if you choose to visit a primary care doctor that is not in your plan’s provider network, your insurer might not pay any of the bill, or if they do, you might have much higher cost-sharing than if you had chosen to see an in-network provider. In these situations, the health care provider or facility might send you…

  • Me inscribí en un plan de salud estudiantil, pero pienso que tengo mejores opciones en el mercado de seguros. ¿Puedo dejar la cobertura estudiantil e inscribirme en el mercado?

    FAQs

    Si actualmente está inscrito en un plan de salud para estudiantes, aún puede inscribirse para obtener cobertura en el mercado de seguros durante el período anual de inscripción abierta. Si sus ingresos familiares previstos son de al menos $15.650 en 2026, también puede aplicar para subsidios para pagar las primas. Sin embargo, deberá cancelar su cobertura de salud estudiantil antes del 31 de diciembre. Fuera del período de inscripción abierta, no puede cancelar voluntariamente su…

  • ¿Puedo pagar mi seguro con tarjeta de crédito, débito, money order o efectivo?

    FAQs

    Se requiere que todas las aseguradoras del mercado acepten money orders, tarjetas de débito prepagas o transferencias electrónicas de fondos (depósitos directos digitales). No tienen que aceptar pagos con tarjeta de crédito o débito a menos que los estados lo exijan, aunque muchas aseguradoras actualmente aceptan todas estas formas de pago. Por lo tanto, puede variar de estado a estado y entre aseguradoras.

  • Acabo de conseguir un trabajo con seguro médico, pero el seguro de mis padres es mejor y más económico. ¿Puedo seguir con el seguro de mis padres?

    FAQs

    Sí, puede permanecer en el plan de sus padres hasta los 26 años si ellos tienen cobertura a través del trabajo, o hasta el final del año en el que cumpla 26 si tienen cobertura del mercado. Ser elegible para recibir beneficios de salud a través de tu trabajo no te invalida para estar cubierto como dependiente en el plan de tus padres.

  • Recent Trends in Commercial Health Insurance Market Concentration

    Issue Brief

    Commercial health insurance markets remain highly concentrated across coverage types. However, the individual market, which consists mostly of the ACA Marketplaces, has attracted more insurers and witnessed greater insurer competition across a variety of measures since the implementation of the enhanced premium tax credits in 2021, according to a new Healthy System Tracker analysis.