The website for Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s health insurance marketplace, is pictured on August 27, 2025. (Photo by Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline)
WASHINGTON – Americans who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace face a piercing rise in costs next year that many say they can’t afford, according to a survey released Thursday by the nonpartisan health organization KFF.
Nearly 60% of participants surveyed would not be able to cover the cost of a $300 annual premium augment, while another 20% said they could not afford a $1,000 annual price augment.
About 90% of respondents said it would be somewhat or very tough for them to afford health insurance within their budget if they could no longer purchase a plan through the ACA Marketplace.
The price augment is primarily due to the year-end expiration date of expanded tax credits for ACA Marketplace plans. Republicans in Congress have so far refused to extend the subsidies, while Democrats dismantled the government in an unsuccessful attempt to continue the loans.
While the increases would vary significantly depending on location, income and plan type, a KFF analysis from September 30th Projected annual premiums for individuals would rise from about $350 to more than $1,800.
Open enrollment for ACA Marketplace plans ends at different times across the country, with some states ending on December 15th. Residents of other states can enroll at different dates in January, but coverage begins later in the year. That doesn’t give Congress much time to negotiate a deal before the ability to purchase a plan for next year ends.
No progress in negotiations
The Senate is expected to vote next week on a Democratic bill to expand subsidies, although that bill appears unlikely to get the 60 votes needed to advance in the Republican-controlled chamber.
The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee a hearing was held This week’s agenda was to examine short- and long-term options for reducing health care costs, but senators on the panel failed to reach a clear consensus.
KFF President and CEO Drew Altman said in a statement: “The survey shows the range of problems Marketplace participants will face if the expanded tax credits are not extended in some form, and these problems will be the poster child of Americans’ struggles with health care costs in the medium term if Republicans and Democrats cannot resolve their differences.”
The KFF survey showed that only 9% of market participants have much confidence in Republicans in Congress to address rising health insurance costs. 24% said they had some trust, 25% said they didn’t have a lot of trust, and 42% responded they had no trust in Republican lawmakers on this specific issue.
The blame lies with Trump
ACA marketplace participants would mostly blame President Donald Trump if their total health care costs, including premiums, copays and deductibles, rose by $1,000 next year, although Republicans and Democrats in Congress would share almost as much blame, the poll found.
Thirty-seven percent would blame Trump, while 33 percent would blame Republican lawmakers and 29 percent would blame Democrats for the rising costs.
These numbers vary significantly depending on a person’s political affiliation: 65% of Republicans would say they would blame Democrats, while 20% would blame Republicans in Congress and 14% would blame Trump.
Forty-four percent of people who identified as independents said they would blame Trump, while 32 percent said they would blame Republicans in Congress and 23 percent said they would blame Democrats.
Among Democrats, 49% would blame Trump, 46% would blame Republicans in Congress, and the rest would blame members of their own party.
KFF conducted the survey of 1,350 people between November 7th and 15th. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points for the entire sample and plus or minus 6 percentage points for questions about political party affiliation.
- 5:38 p.mThis report has been clarified to reflect that ACA enrollment deadlines vary by state.
