Will the price of health insurance go down?


Editorial team Published on

No, health insurance premiums are generally not going down; instead, they face continued double-digit increases driven by rising healthcare costs, inflation, and the expiration of enhanced federal subsidies.

You can review your specific options and estimate costs for your situation through the official HealthCare.gov Marketplace Portal or state-specific sites like Covered California.

Key Reasons Premiums Remain High

  • Rising Healthcare Costs: General inflation, higher hospital costs, labor shortages, and expensive new prescription drugs (like GLP-1 weight-loss medications) continue to push up underlying spending.
  • Lapse of Enhanced Tax Credits: Expanded Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025, substantially increasing out-of-pocket monthly costs for millions of enrollees.
  • Proposed 2027 Hikes: Insurers across the ACA marketplace have proposed a median rate increase of roughly 15% for the upcoming year as risk pools shift and overall care utilization grows.

Ways to Manage Your Costs

  • Check Regular Subsidies: Standard, non-enhanced subsidies remain available based on household size and income to help offset a portion of benchmark plan premium increases.
  • Compare Lower-Tier Plans: Moving from a Silver plan to a Bronze or alternative lower-cost plan can reduce monthly premiums, though you should factor in higher potential out-of-pocket deductibles.
  • Report Life Changes: Update your income or household status promptly through your marketplace account to ensure your tax credit calculations match current eligibility.