Millions of Americans Face Soaring Healthcare Costs as ACA Subsidies Expire in 2026
On January 1, 2026, millions of Americans began the year without the healthcare coverage they had come to rely on, as the subsidies provided under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expired. Approximately 24 million individuals who purchase insurance through the ACA marketplace now face dramatically increased premiums.
Among those impacted is Adrienne Martin, a 47-year-old from Texas, whose monthly insurance premium is set to rise from $630 to $2,400. Her husband requires a costly IV medication that runs about $70,000 a month, prompting the family to stockpile drugs to manage the increased expenses. Similarly, Maddie Bannister from California, who recently had a baby, faces premiums escalating from $124 to roughly $908 per month and may choose to forgo insurance altogether due to the unaffordability.
Stephanie Petersen, who previously had Medicaid coverage, had switched to an ACA plan but, confronted with premiums rising from $75 to $580 per month, plans to return to Medicaid. Experts warn that over 27 million Americans could be uninsured in 2026, with the situation likely to worsen as healthcare costs continue to climb.
Congress attempted to pass legislation extending the subsidies into 2026, proposing a three-year extension costing about $35 billion annually. However, legislative gridlock stalled the process. Lawmakers agreed to pursue a vote on the extension during the week of January 5, following a weeks-long government shutdown earlier in the year. Without these subsidies, average monthly healthcare costs are expected to increase by roughly 114%, placing significant financial strain on millions of families nationwide.
