Approved 2026 Marketplace premiums rose 26%, while subsidies shield most enrollees from the full increase
The Receipt · Friday, 11 September 2026
Why it matters
This is a measured increase in US healthcare costs, showing that subsidies absorb only part of the premium shock and may force some households to accept substantially higher deductibles. The modeled gap is especially consequential for people in their late 50s and early 60s who buy coverage before Medicare eligibility, with a $2,000 income difference producing thousands of dollars in additional annual premiums.
What happened
Insurer rate filings analyzed by Peterson-KFF put the average 2026 Marketplace premium increase at 26% nationwide, with increases of about 30% in HealthCare.gov states and 17% in state-run exchanges. About 22 million of the roughly 24 million enrollees receive premium tax credits, but modeled average annual payments for subsidized enrollees rise from $888 to $1,904; many households may need to switch to bronze plans with deductibles above $7,000 to limit their monthly bill. The return of the 400%-of-poverty-line eligibility ceiling leaves older households just above the cutoff exposed: a modeled 60-year-old household earning $64,000 pays about $14,931 annually for a benchmark plan, compared with $6,175 for one earning $62,000.
Previously
2025 — Federal enhanced Marketplace premium tax credits were available through the end of 2025, including eligibility for some households earning above 400% of the federal poverty line.(Peterson-KFF)
2019–ongoing — Maryland's Section 1332 reinsurance program reduced unsubsidized Marketplace premiums by as much as 35% relative to estimated premiums without the program.(KFF)
Players & places
- United States
- Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker
- Internal Revenue Service