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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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  • 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.

  • Enrollment Growth in the ACA Marketplaces

    Policy Watch

    This analysis of enrollment in Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace health plans finds a record 24.3 million people enrolled in 2025, more than double the total in 2020, with most of the growth occurring in states won by President Trump in the 2024 election. In six states, enrollment more than tripled from 2020 to 2025: Texas, Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana, Georgia, and Tennessee.

  • Recibí un formulario 1095-C por correo. ¿Qué es?

    FAQs

    El formulario 1095-C indicará su nombre y el de su empleador, los meses en que tuvo derecho a cobertura y el costo de la prima mensual más baja que podría haber contratado bajo el plan de salud de su empleador. Si trabajó para una empresa grande que no ofrecía cobertura médica a sus empleados de tiempo completo, el formulario 1095-C también lo indicará. Conserve este formulario con sus registros fiscales. Es posible que lo necesite…

  • Do Marketplace plans cover gender-affirming care? What changes have there been to coverage requirements?

    FAQs

    Not necessarily. Coverage varies by state and by plan. Some, but not all, states prohibit health insurance plans from excluding coverage for gender-affirming care. Even in states where coverage is required, it is possible that not all gender affirming services will be covered. For example, a plan might cover hormone therapy but not laser hair removal. In states where coverage for gender-affirming care is not required, some plans may exclude this coverage altogether. Beginning in…

  • How can I protect my personal information while enrolling in Marketplace coverage through a non-Marketplace website?

    FAQs

    Here are some tips on protecting your personal information if you choose to enroll in Marketplace coverage through a non-Marketplace website: Beware of sales techniques that pressure you to make quick decisions. Use this HealthCare.gov tool to find certified enrollment partner websites approved by the Marketplace. Be cautious in engaging with advertisements that offer cash, gifts, or other perks. The information you provide through these advertisements could be used for other purposes without your consent.…

  • Use of ACA preventive services potentially affected by Braidwood v. Becerra

    Issue Brief

    This analysis finds that about 10 million privately insured people received at least one ACA preventive service or drug that could be affected by a now-stayed U.S. District Court ruling, which found the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) requirement to cover certain preventive services without any cost sharing to be partially unconstitutional.