Health insurance premiums expected to rise significantly as open enrollment approaches

Open enrollment is approaching, and consumers should prepare for increased premiums as they shop for health plans that work best for them.

For many consumers, open enrollment represents a yearly deadline to secure health coverage. One retired volunteer, who gets her insurance on and off through the Marketplace, expressed concern about the rising costs.

"Medical care should be a basic human right," she said. "I don't have it consistently. So having this as a safety net for people is very important."

Recent data from KFF shows insurers offering Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans could increase premiums by around 18% for 2026. The price consumers pay could jump by 75% if subsidies for the program expire at the end of December.

KFF data also shows premiums already went up 7% in 2025.

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