ACA premiums jumped 58% after the enhanced subsidies expired

The enhanced premium tax credits ended on December 31, 2025. Here is what replaced them on your bill.

The average monthly premium that Marketplace consumers actually pay — after tax credits — went from $113 to $178. That is 58% more, or $780 a year.

The average hides the damage

KFF estimated that premium payments would rise 114% on average for subsidized enrollees who wanted to keep the same plan. Two things drove it:

• The credits shrank. The enhanced credits were larger and reached further up the income scale.
• The underlying rates rose. Insurers filed a median rate increase of 18% for 2026, their largest proposed increases since 2018.

Both happened at once, which is why the net payment moved so much more than the sticker price.

Who got hit hardest

If your household income is above 400% of the federal poverty level, you were only eligible for a subsidy at all because of the enhanced credits. When they expired, that help went to zero — not down, to zero. That is the cliff people are describing when they say their premium tripled.

What you can still do

• Check your plan tier. Moving between metal levels changes both the premium and the deductible. A lower premium with a much higher deductible is not automatically cheaper for you.
• Re-check your income estimate. The credit is calculated on projected income. If yours changed, the estimate you filed may no longer be right.
• Confirm you are still enrolled. Some enrollees were moved or dropped when their plan was discontinued.

This is a national average, not a quote. Your number depends on your state, your age, your income and your plan.

Questions people ask