Overview
- Open enrollment for 2026 coverage is live through Jan. 15, and consumers must enroll by Dec. 15 for plans that start Jan. 1.
- Insurer filings and analyses show pre-subsidy premiums rising broadly, averaging about 26% nationwide, roughly 30% on the federal exchange and about 17% on many state-run marketplaces.
- Congress remains at an impasse over whether to extend pandemic-era enhanced premium tax credits, a dispute that is central to the ongoing federal shutdown.
- The Congressional Budget Office warns that millions could lose coverage if the enhanced subsidies lapse, with older adults and middle‑income households above the former 400% FPL threshold facing the steepest increases.
- Advisers report heightened demand and early shopper sticker shock, and experts urge consumers to compare plans carefully, noting that many lower-income enrollees can still find low-cost options if they shop.