The 58% figure describes an average jump in what Marketplace enrollees paid toward premiums in 2026—not a 58% increase in every plan’s sticker price or every household’s bill. The expiration of enhanced federal premium tax credits raised many people’s share of the cost. For 2027, insurers have proposed higher gross rates, but proposals are not final and do not predict what any one person will pay after financial help.
Why did my ACA premium go up 58%?
According to KFF analysis reported by the Associated Press, Marketplace enrollees’ premium payments rose by an average of 58% in 2026 after enhanced federal premium tax credits expired. That is an average change in consumers’ payments, not a measure of how much every insurer raised every plan’s gross premium. Individual bills varied, and some people reduced their monthly payments by switching to lower-premium plans with higher deductibles. The Associated Press report describes the increase and the plan-switching trade-off.
Two different numbers often get called a “premium.” The gross premium is the insurer’s price for a plan. An eligible enrollee’s premium contribution is what they owe after any premium tax credit. The federal government can pay an advance premium tax credit (APTC) to the insurer each month to reduce the enrollee’s bill. When financial help shrinks or ends, the enrollee may owe more even if the gross premium did not rise by the same amount. The Congressional Research Service explains the credit and how it works in its premium tax credit FAQ.
The enhanced federal credits were expanded during the COVID-era policy response and extended through 2025; they expired at the end of that year. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) records the expiration in its 2026 Open Enrollment Report. The 2025 reconciliation law, Public Law 119-21, did not extend them, according to the Congressional Research Service.
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Will my Marketplace premium go up again in 2027?
There is no single national increase that tells you what your 2027 bill will be. Insurers have filed proposed gross rate changes, but state regulators have not necessarily approved them, and your net cost also depends on the plan you choose and any financial help for which you qualify. KFF’s analysis, updated August 3, 2026, found a 15% median proposed increase among 276 insurers with public filings across all 50 states and Washington, DC. A median is not an average; the figure is a summary of proposed insurer rate changes, not an approved increase or a personalized estimate. KFF’s 2027 analysis describes insurers’ filings and cited factors, including health-service prices, inflation, labor shortages, expiration of enhanced credits, and a related change in the risk pool.
| Figure | What it describes | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| 58% average increase in enrollee premium payments in 2026 | What Marketplace consumers paid toward premiums, as reported by AP from KFF analysis | Not a universal gross-rate increase or a prediction for an individual. AP |
| 15% median proposed increase for 2027 | Insurer-filed gross rate changes in KFF’s analysis of 276 insurers across all 50 states and DC | Proposed, not final; a national median, not a household quote. KFF |
| $619 before APTC; $178 after APTC per month | Average selected Exchange-plan premiums during the 2026 Open Enrollment Period | CMS national averages mix locations, plans, and enrollees; state subsidies are not consistently reflected. CMS |
| 9.9% preliminary weighted average proposed increase for 2027 | Covered California’s state-specific preliminary figure | Rates vary by plan and region; this is not a national estimate. Covered California |
CMS says its 2027 Payment Notice lowers Exchange user fees to 1.9% for the federally facilitated exchange and 1.5% for state exchanges on the federal platform, down from 2.5% and 2.0% in 2026. The agency expects the fee changes to put downward pressure on premiums; that does not establish that a particular insurer’s rate filing or a household’s bill will fall. The rule also changes eligibility verification, oversight, and plan options. See CMS’s announcement.
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When does ACA open enrollment start for 2027?
For the federal Marketplace platform, 2027 Open Enrollment runs November 1 through December 15, 2026. State-based exchanges may use different dates within CMS’s limits: they must start no later than November 1, close no later than December 31, and run no more than nine calendar weeks. Check your own state exchange’s current notice rather than assuming the federal deadline applies locally. The schedule and state flexibility are described in CMS’s final-rule fact sheet.
How to compare plans before renewing
Do not choose solely by the monthly premium. A plan with a lower net premium can leave you paying more when you receive care, and a plan that looks affordable is not useful if your doctors or prescriptions are not covered on acceptable terms. Review these items for each plan available in your area:
- Net monthly premium: Compare the amount after any federal tax credit and state financial help, not just the gross price shown for the plan.
- Deductible and cost-sharing: Check the deductible, copayments, coinsurance, and your potential out-of-pocket spending for the care you expect. A lower-premium plan may have a higher deductible.
- Providers and hospitals: Confirm that the clinicians and facilities you use are in the plan’s network; do not assume last year’s network carries over.
- Prescriptions: Check the plan’s formulary and pharmacy terms for the medicines you take.
- Financial-help eligibility: Update household and income information and check the federal and state assistance available under current rules. Eligibility and tax reconciliation depend on individual circumstances; use official Marketplace information for your situation.
- Final local rates and availability: Revisit the plan choices once approved rates and local offerings are available. National proposed figures and preliminary state averages are not personalized quotes.
Covered California’s preliminary figure illustrates why local checking matters: the state’s weighted average proposal is only a broad summary, with actual rates differing by region and plan. Its marketplace says shopping and switching may lessen the impact of rising rates. That only helps if the replacement plan still covers your providers and prescriptions and fits your expected care.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why did my health insurance premium go up?
For Marketplace coverage, a higher bill can reflect more than one change: the insurer’s gross rate, the amount of tax credit applied, or a switch to a different plan. The 2026 expiration of enhanced credits changed the consumer share for many enrollees. For 2027, insurers have also cited rising medical-service prices, general inflation, labor shortages, and changes in the risk pool in their proposed rates. Your renewal notice and updated Marketplace application are the practical way to see which parts affect your own bill; the national figures above cannot identify that for you.
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