Healthcare policy expert breaks down the factors driving rising insurance costs

The Affordable Care Act marketplace opened one week ago, and millions of Americans are making crucial decisions about their health coverage for 2025.

However, rising premiums, changing subsidies and increasing prescription drug costs are creating financial challenges for consumers heading into 2026.

Cynthia Cox, vice president and director of the program on the ACA at KFF, a nonprofit health policy organization, explained that the factors driving these cost increases affect both ACA marketplace shoppers and those with employer-sponsored insurance.

"Whether you're getting your insurance through the Obamacare markets or through your employer health care, costs are going up a lot next year," Cox said.

She identified several common factors contributing to rising costs across all insurance