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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  • My child goes to college in another state, but we want him on our Marketplace family plan. Can we do that?

    FAQs

    Yes. Your child can join your Marketplace family plan, even if they live out of state. However, your child may need to return home to access care within your plan’s provider network. If they get health care services in another state, the provider may be outside your plan’s network, and you may have to pay higher cost sharing for non-emergency services. Your child may be eligible to buy coverage in the state where they attend…

  • Where can I get help with my Marketplace application?

    FAQs

    All Marketplaces are required to offer "Navigator" programs to help consumers review their plan choices, complete their application, or apply for financial assistance. Navigators can also assist consumers applying for Medicaid or CHIP. Additionally, Navigators can help consumers with post-enrollment support, such as appealing Marketplace decisions. Navigators are paid by the Marketplace, not by health plans, and they must complete Marketplace training and be free from conflicts of interest. You may also be able to…

  • Recibí un formulario 1095-A del mercado de seguros. ¿Qué es?

    FAQs

    El formulario 1095-A brinda información sobre el monto del crédito tributario anticipado para las primas (APTC) que recibió el año anterior. Una copia del formulario también fue reportada al IRS. Guarde una copia en sus récords. El APTC se basó en el ingreso anual que usted estimó que ganaría cuando se inscribió en la cobertura del mercado. Ahora debe presentar una declaración de impuestos federal para calcular su ingreso real para ese año de cobertura.…

  • Estoy cubierta bajo el plan de mis padres y estoy embarazada. ¿El plan de mis padres cubrirá mi atención prenatal y parto?

    FAQs

    Las leyes federales exigen que muchos planes patrocinados por empleadores y todos los planes de seguro individuales que cumplen con la Ley de Cuidado de Salud a Bajo Precio (ACA), incluyendo los disponibles a través de los mercados de seguros, cubran los servicios de maternidad, incluyendo el embarazo, el parto y la atención al recién nacido. Es posible que se apliquen costos compartidos a algunos servicios de maternidad. La mayoría de los planes privados también…

  • The Affordable Care Act’s Enduring Resilience

    Perspective

    In this article in the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, Larry Levitt examines the Affordable Care Act 10 years after it's enactment. The article notes that the law has taken numerous blows, yet due to its policy design and the political forces it has unleashed, the law has shown remarkable resilience.

  • Media Briefing to Release New Survey Tracking California’s Previously Uninsured Residents Under the Affordable Care Act

    Event Date:
    Event

    Media-only web briefing that released a new survey tracking the experiences of California's previously uninsured residents under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). New survey provides a detailed assessment of how well the ACA is working for previously uninsured residents in a state that embraced the ACA's coverage expansion opportunities by establishing the Covered California insurance marketplace and expanding its Medi-Cal program.

  • New Tracker Monitors Affordable Care Act Preventive Services Coverage

    News Release

    The Affordable Care Act requires private insurance plans to cover recommended preventive services with no out-of-pocket charges for patients. This slate of covered services can change when the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and other authorized groups add or modify recommendations; the federal government also periodically issues clarifications to guide health plans in their coverage. A new tracker from the Kaiser Family Foundation monitors the preventive services that must be covered for adults without cost sharing,…

  • Obamacare Debate: Where GOP Governors Stand on Repeal and Replace

    From Drew Altman

    As congress prepares to vote on repeal of the Affordable Care Act, Drew Altman discusses whether Republican governors and congressional Republicans will be at odds over key issues when it comes to repealing and replacing the law in this Wall Street Journal Think Tank column.