U.S. Health Insurers Seek Largest ACA Premium Spike Since 2018

Health insurers across the United States are proposing substantial premium increases for Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans in 2026, with an average hike of around 15%, the largest since 2018. These increases are driven by rising healthcare costs, including drug prices and hospital care, as well as the impending expiration of enhanced premium tax credits originally enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The expiration of these subsidies is expected to raise premiums for subsidized enrollees by over 75% starting in 2026 if Congress does not intervene, prompting insurers to factor in an additional 4% increase. In Connecticut, insurers have requested average rate hikes of 17.8% for individual plans and 13.1% for small group plans, with some increases reaching nearly 29%. Major companies such as Cigna and Blue Cross & Blue Shield face similar pressures, reflecting broader industry trends related to federal policy changes and escalating healthcare expenses. Insurers also cited regulatory uncertainties and the growing enrollment of higher-risk patients as contributing factors to the premium hikes.