Rising Premiums Couldโข Drive Millions to Drop orโ Downgrade โขACA Coverage, New Poll Finds
A recent survey by โthe kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) reveals that significantโ premium increases couldโฃ led a โคsubstantial number of Affordable โคCare Act (ACA) Marketplace enrollees to seek cheaper plans or forgo insurance altogether. The poll, conducted in early November during the initial weeks of open enrollment, examined how enrolleesโ anticipate responding to potential โcostโค hikes as enhanced ACA tax โฃcredits are โขset to โexpire.
The โขsurveyโฃ found โthat if premiums doubled, approximately one-third (33%) โof Marketplace enrollees stated they would “very likely”โข search for a lower-premium plan, even if it meant accepting higher deductibles and co-pays.Moreover, one โขin fourโ (25%) indicated they would “veryโค likely” go without health insurance next year.
These responses โขcome as roughly 22 million of the 24 millionโค Marketplace enrollees currently benefitโ from expiring tax credits. Without an extension of these credits, premiums are projected to riseโ by an average of 114%, increasing from $888โค to โ$1,904 annually.
The financial strain of increased โขcosts is a major concern for enrollees. โ Nearly six in ten (58%) reported they could not afford a $300 annual premium increase without substantially impacting their household finances, while โan additionalโ 20% wouldโ struggle withโข a $1,000 increase.
The KFF poll also explored how enrollees would cope with a $1,000 increase in total โ healthcare costs (including premiums, deductibles, andโข cost-sharing).โ The majority (67%) would likelyโ cut back on daily household expenses, while over half (54%) would consider seeking additional employment or working extraโ hours. Forty-oneโฃ percent would likelyโค delay or skip paying other bills, and 34% would โฃresort to taking out loans or โincreasing credit card debt.
“The poll showsโค the range of problemsโ Marketplace enrolleesโ will face if the enhanced tax credits are not extended in someโ form, and those problems will be theโฃ poster child of the struggles Americans are having โwith health careโ costs in โthe midterms ifโ Republicans โand Democrats cannot resolve their differences,” said Drewโ Altman, KFF President and CEO.
The survey asked enrollees to assess โฃthe likelihood of various responses to a โdoubling of their monthly premiums (or a $50 increase for those currently paying nothing).
Open enrollment for 2026 coverage began Novemberโ 1st and continues through January 15thโค in most states. However, consumers wantingโค coverage โeffectiveโ January โ1st must enroll by December 15th. โ The vast majority of โenrollees (89%) anticipateโ making โa decision byโ the end of the year, with many already having determined their coverage plans.
