Tennessee Familiesโ Face potential healthโฃ Insurance Doubling as Federal subsidies near Expiration
NASHVILLE, TN โ- Hundreds of thousandsโฃ of Tennessee families could see their health insurance premiums nearly double in 2026 if Congress fails to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, โaccording to a new analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). Nationwide,average premiums โare projected to rise by 18%,but Tennessee could experience increases as high as 26%.
Currently, over โ600,000 Tennesseans are โคenrolled in ACA coverage, and many rely on the expanded premium tax credits to โฃmake coverageโค affordable. KFF’s analysis indicates a family currently paying around $74 per month could see their monthly bill jump to over $160 if the subsidies โคexpire.
The importantโฃ growth in Tennessee’s ACA marketplaceโ enrollment – from approximately 246,000 in 2020 to 640,000 this year – is directlyโค linked to these enhanced credits, making coverage accessible to middle-income americans who would otherwiseโ likely go uninsured.
“States like Tennessee,โค South โCarolina, Georgia, Texas, Florida have seen their marketplace populations explode over the โคlast four or five years as of these enhanced premium tax credits,” โคexplained KFF policy โanalyst Matt mcgough. “Itโข made coverage affordable for many middleโ Americans โขwho otherwise would have gone uninsured.”
Experts estimate that as manyโฃ as 400,000 Tennesseansโ could lose coverage altogether. The impactโ is expected to be particularly severe in rural communities,where access toโฃ healthcare is already limited.
“If people don’t have insurance, rural hospitalsโฃ and rural clinics loseโข revenue,” said Michael McSurdy, Presidentโ and CEO of Family &โ Children’sโ Service.”The impact on those โpeople is going to be lack of health care, period.”
The future of these subsidies is currently tied to a broader budget debate in Washington, โฃD.C. While Democrats advocate โfor extending the โขprogram to maintain healthcare access, Republicans cite cost concerns.
Unless a deal is reached, the changes are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.