Many with ACA coverage face a new crisis in 2027: Insurers fleeing the market

Key Points:

• Insurers offering Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans are proposing an average 15% premium increase for 2027, marking the second consecutive year of double-digit hikes amid rising healthcare costs.
• Eleven insurers, including Cigna which is exiting all 11 states where it offers ACA plans, plan to leave the ACA marketplaces in 2027, reducing consumer options and potentially causing disruptions in care.
• The departures follow the expiration of enhanced tax credits at the end of 2025, which led to a 3 million drop in ACA enrollment and a higher concentration of sicker individuals remaining insured, making the marketplace less profitable for insurers.
• Consumers are facing difficult financial decisions due to rising premiums and fewer plan choices, with some considering going uninsured temporarily or dipping into retirement savings to cover costs.
• Experts warn that these trends could weaken public support for the ACA by making coverage less affordable and accessible, urging enrollees to carefully review their options during the upcoming open enrollment period.