Average monthly out-of-pocket premiums for Health Insurance Marketplace enrollees jumped from $113 to $178 in 2026, a $65 increase following the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits at the end of 2025. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported on March 27, 2026 that enrollment declined 5% to 23.1 million consumers, while plan selection shifted dramatically with Bronze plans rising from 30% to 40% and Silver plans dropping from 56% to 43%. The data suggests consumers are responding to higher costs by selecting lower-premium, higher-deductible plans.
2026 Marketplace Premium Increases and Tax Credit Expiration
- ▪Enhanced premium tax credits for Health Insurance Marketplace enrollees expired at the end of 2025
- ▪Average out-of-pocket premiums for Health Insurance Marketplace enrollees increased from $113 per month in 2025 to $178 per month in 2026
- ▪The 2026 Health Insurance Marketplace premium figures represent costs after accounting for enhanced premium tax credits
- ▪The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a report on March 27, 2026 about Health Insurance Marketplace premiums
Shifts in Health Plan Selection Patterns
- ▪Bronze plan selection among 2026 Health Insurance Marketplace enrollees increased from 30% in 2025 to 40% in 2026
Decline in Marketplace Enrollment
- ▪Health Insurance Marketplace enrollment for 2026 decreased 5% compared to 2025
- ▪23.1 million consumers selected or re-enrolled in Health Insurance Marketplace coverage for 2026
Perspective of Health insurance affordability advocates
- ▪The 5% decline in Health Insurance Marketplace enrollment for 2026 represents consumers dropping coverage because premiums became too expensive after subsidy expiration
- ▪The shift from Silver to Bronze plans among Health Insurance Marketplace enrollees in 2026 indicates consumers are choosing higher-deductible coverage due to cost pressures
Perspective of Fiscal conservatives
- ▪The expiration of enhanced premium tax credits for Health Insurance Marketplace plans represents a return to sustainable federal spending levels
- ▪Health Insurance Marketplace enrollees retained 23.1 million consumers for 2026 despite reduced subsidies, demonstrating continued demand for coverage
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