Enhanced tax credits that helped lower the cost of health insurance for the majority of Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollees expired overnight as 2026 began, cementing significantly higher costs for millions of American families who now face impossible choices.
On average, more than 20 million subsidised enrollees are experiencing a 114% increase in their premiums this year, according to an analysis by healthcare research non-profit KFF. The change impacts a diverse cross-section of Americans who do not receive employer-sponsored coverage and do not qualify for Medicaid or Medicare, including self-employed workers, small business owners, farmers, and ranchers, according to PBS.
