Health insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act are jumping sharply in 2026, and many families are discovering that their monthly payments now rival, or even exceed, the cost of a mortgage.
According to a new analysis by KFF, premiums for ACA plans will rise an average of 26% nationwide.
For the 30 states that use the federal exchange, healthcare.gov, the cost of the benchmark plan is increasing 30%. In states with their own exchanges, premiums will go up about 17% on average.
Subsidies Disappear, Costs Double
But the real shock for many Americans comes from the expiration of enhanced subsidies that helped make coverage affordable.
Those subsidies, first introduced during the pandemic, are ending at the end of this year.
Without them, KFF says monthly payments could more than double for millions of enrollees.
The impact was already visible during the ACA’s window-shopping period, which opened Oct. 29, ahead of the start of open enrollment on Nov. 1.
Now that enrollment is underway, many consumers are experiencing sticker shock as they review the updated premiums.
Many users on Reddit and across social media are expressing disbelief at how expensive health insurance has become.
One ACA plan shown in a viral post listed monthly premiums between $3,655 and $3,810, with deductibles as high as $12,000.
One person said: “$3,800 a month and it doesn’t even kick in until you’ve spent $8,300? That’s insane and the reason I don’t have health insurance.”
Another peson added, “With that amount you could actually live in a hospital in Slovenia.”
One more persone wrote, “That’s going to be a hard no from many people. Which will probably cause the insurance industry to collapse, which will probably cause America to finally adopt single payer.“
States Warn of Coverage Losses
Even state regulators are sounding the alarm. In New Jersey, the average premium will rise by more than 174% in 2026, according to the state’s Department of Banking and Insurance.
About 60,000 people will lose access to any federal help paying for coverage.
“Consumers will soon be shopping and comparing health plans, and without these enhanced tax credits, they will be confronted by startlingly higher prices for coverage,” said Commissioner Justin Zimmerman in a statement.
In Colorado, premiums are expected to jump 101% on average. The state’s Division of Insurance estimates 75,000 people may lose coverage entirely.
CNN reported that for a family of four living in the Denver area and earning $128,000, premiums for a standard silver plan would increase by $14,000 annually if the enhanced subsidies are not renewed
Congress Gridlocked as Open Enrollment Began
The Biden administration has pushed to extend the enhanced subsidies, which helped bring ACA sign-ups to a record 24 million people in 2025.
But Republicans in Congress have held the line during the ongoing government shutdown, refusing to negotiate until funding issues are resolved.
Renewing the subsidies would cost an estimated $350 billion over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Without action, many fear people will abandon coverage altogether. KFF estimates 4 million more Americans could be uninsured by 2034.
Families Face Tough Choices
As one frustrated person wrote: “That’s more than 2.5x my mortgage.”
Another user shared, “You’d be better off moving to a different western country where healthcare is free at this point.”
Someone else added, “Honestly, at these rates, I would just take my chances with death.”
For now, enrollees are left with tough choices, pay thousands more per year for coverage, downgrade to a weaker plan, or go uninsured altogether.
Now that open enrollment has started, families are realizing that health insurance, once considered a safety net, is starting to feel like a luxury.