ACA Marketplace Premiums Set for Second Consecutive Double‑Digit Rise in 2027

Health insurers filing rates for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace have asked regulators to raise premiums by a median 14% for 2027, the second‑highest increase since 2018. The request comes from 77 insurers that have submitted preliminary filings covering 16 states and the District of Columbia. Insurers cite three main drivers: soaring health‑care costs, the expiration of the pandemic‑era enhanced premium subsidies, and recent federal regulatory changes. 2026 saw a 20% median hike, pushing out‑of‑pocket costs up 58% for many enrollees and prompting an estimated 3 million Americans to drop coverage, leaving a risk pool that is older and sicker. Middle‑income households earning 400% of the federal poverty level no longer qualify for subsidies and will bear the full increase. The projected 14% rise would push overall ACA premiums up more than one‑third between 2025 and 2027, further straining consumers and increasing federal subsidy outlays for those still eligible.