Why Did My Health Insurance Premium Go Up?

What actually changed

The single biggest factor is the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits. Those expanded subsidies ran from 2021 through 2025 and expired on December 31, 2025. As of mid-2026 they had not been reinstated.

Subsidies did not disappear — the original ACA premium tax credits still exist. But the enhanced version was more generous and reached further up the income scale. For a lot of households, the amount of help shrank while the sticker price of plans kept climbing.

On top of that, several insurers pulled out of Marketplace business at the end of 2025. When carriers leave a market, the benchmark plan your subsidy is measured against can change, which shifts your net cost even if your own plan didn't change much.

What you can actually do about it

Re-check your subsidy eligibility. It is based on your projected income for the coverage year. If your income has changed, your credit may have too — in either direction.

Reconsider your metal tier. When subsidies shrink, the math between Bronze, Silver, and Gold changes. The tier that was cheapest overall last year may not be this year.

Shop across carriers, not just plans. If your insurer left or repriced aggressively, a different carrier may cover your same doctors for less.

Look at total cost, not premium alone. A lower premium with a much higher deductible can cost you more over a year if you actually use care.

What not to do

Don't drop coverage. Going uninsured to save a monthly payment is the most expensive decision available if anything goes wrong, and you generally can't get back in until the next Open Enrollment.

Don't auto-renew out of frustration. Renewal is the moment you have the most leverage to change something.

Don't assume you make too much to qualify. People talk themselves out of checking every year. It costs nothing to find out.