ACA Open Enrollment Causing Sticker Shock for Millions, Congress Must Act

Open enrollment for Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plans began on November 1, and people shopping for coverage have seen a drastic spike in coverage costs nationwide. This is from a combination of the largest rate increases since 2018 and Congress’s failure to extend premium tax credits that helped people afford coverage. These factors are doubling the price tag on average for consumers.

Congress still has the option to extend critical tax credits that help 22 million people buy ACA plans. But damage is already being done to consumer confidence and sticker-shocked shoppers may not come back later.

Sticker-shocked shoppers may not come back later.

Enhanced Tax Credits Expiring, Triggering Shutdown

In the partisan 2025 budget bill—HR 1—Republicans in Congress declined to extend tax credit enhancements that have been in place since 2021.

House and Senate Democrats point to Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that at least 4.2 million people will be uninsured as a result and have pledged not to end the government shutdown unless Republicans agree to address the expiring tax credits. While there are reports of bipartisan negotiations going on behind the scenes, so far, there has been little public movement.

Adults Approaching Medicare Eligibility Especially at Risk

Over half of enrollees at risk of losing these tax credits are between 50 and 64. This population already pays up to three times more for coverage than younger enrollees and will see astonishing rate hikes. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has a state-by-state breakdown of rate hikes that highlights the effects on older adults, and Families USA has additional information on the cost implications in certain states.

Enrollees between 50 and 64 already pay up to three times more for coverage than younger enrollees.

Compounding Harms

The coverage losses from the expiring credits build on HR 1’s termination of immigrants from ACA tax credit eligibility.

And future damage from HR 1 is in the pipeline as risks for Medicaid enrollees through administrative burdens and cuts to programs that help older adults and people with disabilities live safely in their homes and communities.

The CBO estimates that HR 1 will lead to 7.5 million fewer people being insured, but that does not take into account partial losses in coverage like cuts to Medicaid benefits or rising churn.

These changes will harm millions of people and worsen public health and access to care.

Taken together, these changes will harm millions of people, worsen public health and access to care, and reduce the well-being of individuals and whole communities.

Congress Must Act Quickly

At Medicare Rights, we recognize the value of ACA coverage and will continue to urge lawmakers to extend these tax credits and make them permanent. Low- and middle-income people may lose coverage without this help, reducing their access to care, endangering their health, and driving up health system and Medicare costs.