The bottom lineRe-shop every renewal. Rising benchmarks can raise tax credits, but net cost still varies plan to plan.
KFF's review of 276 insurers puts the national median proposed 2027 increase for individual-market plans at about 15%. That follows a finalized median of about 20% for 2026. Final rates are set before open enrollment begins.
What's driving it
- The enhanced federal premium tax credits ended after 2025. Many younger, healthier enrollees left, leaving an older and sicker risk pool. KFF attributes about 4 points of the 2027 increase to that shift.
- Enrollment fell from 24.2 million in 2025 to 19.2 million effectuated by February 2026. Florida had the largest drop, about 440,000 people.
- Small-group plans have a proposed median increase of about 14%, and ICHRA adoption rose 53% in 2026.
States to watch
| State | Proposed 2027 change |
|---|---|
| Florida | Double-digit increases expected |
| Ohio | 14.7% average |
| Georgia | 20%+ |
| Arizona | 29% weighted average, the highest nationally |
Who is protected
Premium tax credits are pegged to the benchmark Silver plan, so when benchmark prices rise, subsidies usually rise too. Clients who pay full price, including those just above the subsidy cutoff, absorb the whole increase.
Key dates
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2026 | Open enrollment opens on HealthCare.gov |
| Dec 15, 2026 | Last day to pick a plan for Jan 1, 2027 coverage |
| Jan 15, 2027 | HealthCare.gov open enrollment closes (Feb 1 start) |
For the Haven team
What Haven agents should do next, who to call and internal notes are for signed-in team members.
Sign in to readSources
- Insurance Business: ACA premiums are rising again in 2027 (Aug 31, 2026)insurancebusinessmag.com
- healthinsurance.org: 2027 open enrollment press release (Sep 29, 2026)healthinsurance.org
Reporting by the Haven Brief desk at Haven Health Group, based on the sources above. Plan details vary by state and carrier; confirm before you enroll.