Marketplace Plans Opened Nov. 1, Premium Increases Expected
Starting Nov. 1, Americans can log on to HealthCare.gov and state-run exchanges, as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace (Marketplace) open enrollment period began for 2026 coverage. This year’s enrollment window runs through Jan. 15, 2026, in most states, with some extending deadlines into late January.
The average Marketplace premium after tax credits is projected to be $50 per month for the lowest cost plan in 2026 for eligible enrollees, up $13 from 2025. Marketplace enrollees this year have access to, on average, plans with lower premiums after tax credits and more plan choices overall.
KFF estimates that Marketplace premiums will increase by 26% on average in 2026.
What to Expect
Individuals should prepare for the steepest premium hikes since the ACA launched. Insurers project average increases of 26%-30% for 2026 plans, driven by rising health care utilization and costs, costly glucagon-like peptide-1 (or GLP-1) and specialty drugs, inflation and health care labor shortages and associated costs.
Furthermore, enhanced premium tax credits—introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic—are set to expire at the end of 2025 unless Congress acts. Without them, KFF estimates that out-of-pocket premiums could more than double, increasing by about 114% on average.
Marketplace enrollees will continue to have access to a broad range of issuers. The average 2026 enrollee has between six and seven qualified health plan (QHP) issuers available. In 2026, 95% of enrollees have access to three or more QHP issuers, compared to 96% in 2025 and 68% in 2020. Less than 1% of 2026 enrollees have only one available QHP issuer, marking the lowest percentage in Marketplace history.
Moreover, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act expanded health savings account (HSA) access by making all bronze and catastrophic plans in the Marketplace eligible for HSAs. In 2026, HSA-eligible plans will be available to all individuals in states that have their own Marketplace.
How to Enroll
In most states, individuals must enroll by Dec. 15, 2025, for coverage starting Jan. 1, 2026, and by Jan. 15, 2026, for coverage starting Feb. 1, 2026. Review the key dates for your state, as some may have later deadlines.
To get started, visit Healthcare.gov to find your state Marketplace. If you already have an account, log in to update your income, household size and any other details that may have changed since your last update. It’s especially important to provide an accurate estimate for anticipated income in 2026.
If you’re planning to enroll in a Marketplace plan, sign up for Marketplace emails and texts to learn about key dates and updates that will help you prepare. If you’re enrolling in employer-sponsored group health insurance, check with your employer for open enrollment information.
Article Published By: Zywave, Inc.
