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2h ago

Open Enrollment Begins With Sharp ACA Premium Hikes as Subsidy Stalemate Drags On

Insurer rate increases coupled with a potential lapse of expanded tax credits are pushing many shoppers toward much higher 2026 bills.

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Overview

  • HealthCare.gov plans are being listed about 26%–30% higher for 2026, with some consumers encountering quotes that roughly double their current premiums.
  • Congress has not extended the enhanced premium tax credits set to expire Dec. 31 during the shutdown, triggering widespread sticker shock for marketplace enrollees.
  • The Congressional Budget Office projects about 3.8 million more people could become uninsured if the enhanced subsidies lapse.
  • Open enrollment runs through Jan. 15 in most states, with a Dec. 15 cutoff for Jan. 1 coverage, and marketplaces could adjust pricing later if lawmakers act.
  • Rising hospital and prescription drug costs are driving insurer increases, navigator funding was cut by 90%, and younger adults and gig workers face some of the steepest affordability pressures.