Affordable Care Act at Risk: Millions Could Pay More for Coverage Next Year

Affordable Care Act: Millions of people in America pay less for health insurance because the government helps cover part of the cost through a program called the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. But this help may go away very soon. If Congress does not make a new law before the end of 2025, that extra support will stop. And when that happens, insurance prices could shoot up in 2026.

Many families who now save hundreds of dollars every month might have to pay much more for the same health plan. Some might not be able to afford it at all and could lose their coverage. Experts say premiums could jump by 75% or more. In places like Texas and Florida, the price might even double. That means people will need to spend a lot more from their own pockets just to stay insured.

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Insurance Companies preparing for the Change

Some health insurance companies in states like Washington, Oregon, and Vermont have already started planning for 2026. They think the government won’t extend the extra help, so they are asking to raise their prices now. In Washington State, companies want to increase the cost of individual health plans by about 21.2 percent. One company in Oregon, UnitedHealthcare, said they’re also adding extra charges because of expected drug costs.

This isn’t just a guess anymore. These companies are already filing paperwork to raise rates next year. That’s how serious this situation is.

Big Problems Ahead

If nothing changes, this could turn into a major crisis for many families. There’s something called the “subsidy cliff,” which means when the support ends suddenly, people will have to pay full price for their health insurance. That’s a huge risk for people who are older, have disabilities, or live on a fixed income like SSI or SSDI. It could become too expensive for them to stay covered.

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Another issue is that a new tax law is being pushed by House Republicans could make things even worse. It will not just end the extra help but also change the rules about who can get the support in the first place. That could affect more than 4 million people and make insurance even harder to get. policy experts think that if these changes happen, premiums might rise by 93% for people who stay in the program