Rising Costs Leave Many ACA Enrollees in a Bind

Thu Mar 19 2026 17:16:40 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A recent survey reveals that many Americans enrolled in the Affordable Care Act are facing skyrocketing healthcare costs, forcing them to make difficult choices between necessary medications and essential living expenses.

The expiration of enhanced tax credits is pushing ACA enrollees to either drop their plans or downgrade, with many struggling to afford insulin and other medications. A significant percentage of enrollees plan to sacrifice their basic needs to cope with the increased healthcare costs, highlighting the urgent need for reform.

NEW YORK (AP) — Priscilla Brown, a 48-year-old truck dispatcher from Orlando, Florida, finds herself making tough choices when it comes to managing her Type 2 diabetes. With soaring healthcare costs, she often takes only a fraction of her prescribed insulin just to make it last longer.

According to a recent survey by KFF, about 80% of Americans who re-enrolled in Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace coverage report their healthcare costs are higher this year, with about half of those stating the increase is significant. This follows the expiration of enhanced tax credits that had previously helped reduce premiums for many enrollees.

The financial burden is affecting daily life for many. Of the 1,117 surveyed, nearly 55% indicated plans to cut back on food and other basic needs to cope with rising healthcare prices.

While Democrats previously sought to retain COVID-era subsidies, efforts were thwarted by bipartisan challenges. Consequently, 23 million ACA enrollees are left in the lurch, with many facing higher premiums, resulting in some choosing to downgrade or drop their coverage entirely.

Many enrollees are anxious about these unexpected costs. Three-quarters of those who had ACA insurance last year expressed worry about affording emergency care or hospitalizations, and almost half voiced similar concerns regarding routine visits and prescriptions.

Eric LeVasseur, a 63-year-old developer from California, recently faced a shocking premium increase of nearly triple for his mid-tier plan, leading him to drop coverage altogether. Meanwhile, others have switched to lower-tier plans as they grapple with higher deductibles.

Many enrollees blame the rising costs on health insurance companies, with seven in ten placing significant blame on those entities, while half attribute the situation to Republican lawmakers and pharmaceutical companies. As a result, many are calling for the reinstatement of subsidies to alleviate the financial strain.

The KFF poll was conducted from February 12 to March 2, 2026, and highlights the ongoing challenges facing ACA enrollees as they navigate rising costs in healthcare.