While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment period does not begin until November 1, Americans across the country are already seeing the consequences of Congress’ failures to extend enhanced premium tax credits. Marketplace window shopping is open in several states, and premium sticker shock is already rattling households as they review their coverage options for 2026.
Contrary to House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) claims that the expiring tax credits are “an issue for the end of the year,” consumers across the country are already confronting skyrocketing premiums and difficult choices about whether they can afford their health insurance. Several states are previewing 2026 premiums, insurers’ renewal notices are imminent, and Americans with marketplace coverage are considering options now. Lawmakers must act immediately to keep people insured and preserve affordability by extending the enhanced premium tax credits.
The enhanced premium tax credit fight
The enhanced premium tax credits—first enacted under the American Rescue Plan and extended through 2025 by the Inflation Reduction Act—lower the cost of coverage for the more than 20 million Americans who receive financial help with marketplace plans. By increasing the generosity of subsidies and capping premiums at 8.5 percent of household income for those above the previous eligibility limit of 400 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), the enhanced tax credits made coverage more affordable for millions of low- and middle-income consumers. Notably, the changes enabled households with incomes from 100 to 150 percent of the FPL to obtain silver plan coverage for $0, which will no longer be the case if the enhanced subsidies expire.
Currently, the enhanced tax credits are set to expire on December 31, 2025, and congressional Republicans declined several opportunities to extend them as part of the Big Beautiful Bill that passed in July. Marketplace insurers priced 2026 plans expecting that the enhanced credits would end, and millions of Americans will face higher premium costs as a result. A KFF analysis found that if the enhanced tax credits expire, average premium costs would more than double for 20 million Americans and the Center for American Progress previously estimated that average premium costs would spike by 300 percent in some states. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that letting the enhanced tax credits expire would increase the number of uninsured Americans by about 4 million by 2034.
2026 sticker shock is already here
To date, state-based marketplaces in Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Nevada, New York, and Virginia have opened their window-shopping tools for 2026. These tools allow consumers to preview plan options and premium prices before open enrollment begins on November 1. The early sticker shock offers a glimpse of what will soon become reality for millions more Americans with marketplace coverage, unless Congress acts to extend the enhanced tax credits. Premium increases depend on individual household characteristics and plan selections, but examples using state marketplaces’ window-shopping tools show how costs will rise for illustrative households who keep the same silver plan from 2025 to 2026:*
• Virginia: A 51-year-old and 50-year-old couple from Roanoke with a household income of $85,000 would see their premium cost rise from $602 to $1,410 per month—a 134 percent increase.
• New York: A family of four in Rockland County with a household income of $105,000 would see their premium cost rise from $1,809 to $3,101 per month—a 71 percent increase.
• Nevada: A single 61-year-old in Las Vegas earning $68,000 would see their premium cost rise from $505 to $1,179 per month—a 133 percent increase.
• Georgia: A single 45-year-old Atlanta resident with an income of $38,000 would see their premium cost rise from $185 to $477 per month—a 158 percent increase.
The road ahead for 2026 open enrollment
This timeline highlights key dates and deadlines across the HealthCare.gov platform and the state-based marketplaces, showing when enrollees will feel the full impact of rising premiums and why urgent congressional action is needed to keep coverage affordable.
2026 Affordable Care Act window shopping and open enrollment timeline
2025
October 1, 2025
2026 window shopping begins in Georgia, Idaho, Nevada, and Virginia
Sources: Georgia, Idaho, Nevada, and Virginia.
Early October
2026 window shopping begins in Maryland
Source: Maryland.
Early October
Maryland begins sending consumer renewal notices with information on 2026 premiums and tax credits
Source: Maryland.
Early October
2026 window shopping begins in New York
Source: New York.
October 15, 2025
Open enrollment begins in Idaho
Source: Idaho.
October 15, 2025
2026 window shopping begins in California, Kentucky, Maine, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont
Source: California, Kentucky, Maine, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont.
October 15, 2025
California begins sending consumer renewal notices with information on 2026 premiums and tax credits
Source: California.
October 19, 2025
Connecticut begins sending consumer renewal notices with information on 2026 premiums and tax credits
Source: Connecticut.
October 20, 2025
Maine begins sending consumer renewal notices with information on 2026 premiums and tax credits
Source: Maine.
Mid-October
2026 window shopping begins in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Washington, D.C.
Source: Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Washington, D.C.
Mid-October
Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, and Washington, D.C., begin sending consumer renewal notices with information on 2026 premiums and tax credits
Source: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, and Washington, D.C.
Mid-to-late October
Washington begins sending consumer renewal notices with information on 2026 premiums and tax credits
Source: Washington.
October 25, 2025
Virginia begins sending consumer renewal notices with information on 2026 premiums and tax credits
Source: Virginia.
October 27, 2025
2026 window shopping begins in Illinois
Source: Illinois.
October 27, 2025
Illinois begins sending consumer renewal notices with information on 2026 premiums and tax credits
Source: Illinois.
Late October
2026 window shopping begins in Connecticut
Source: Connecticut.
Late October
New Jersey and Vermont begin sending consumer renewal notices with information on 2026 premiums and tax credits
Source: New Jersey and Vermont.
November 1, 2025
Open enrollment begins for HealthCare.gov
Source: HealthCare.gov.
December 15, 2025
Open enrollment ends in Idaho
Source: Idaho.
December 15, 2025
Deadline for consumers across all states to enroll in coverage that begins January 1, 2026
Source: HealthCare.gov.
December 31, 2025
Enhanced premium tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act are scheduled to expire
2026
January 15, 2026
Open enrollment ends for HealthCare.gov
Source: HealthCare.gov.
January 23, 2026
Open enrollment ends in Massachusetts
Source: Massachusetts.
January 30, 2026
Open enrollment ends in Virginia
Source: Virginia.
January 31, 2026
Open enrollment ends in California, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington, D.C.
Sources: California, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington, D.C.
The authors would like to thank Brian Keyser for his fact-checking assistance.
* Authors’ note: The authors conducted marketplace plan window shopping on October 8, 2025. Information on the illustrative household characteristic inputs is on file with the authors.
Natasha Murphy is Director, Health Policy
Neda Ashtari is Associate Director, Health.
