A 2025 KFF estimate projected that roughly 22 million people who relied on premium tax credits could see their Affordable Care Act plan costs more than double in 2026 if those premium tax credits expire.
January 01, 2026
high
temporal
Projected impact on consumers if ACA premium tax credits expire.
The temporary expansion of eligibility for the Affordable Care Act's enhanced premium tax credits is scheduled to expire at the end of 2025.
December 31, 2025
high
temporal
The expanded subsidy eligibility included a sunset provision with a specified end date.
Enhanced premium subsidies (premium tax credits) for Affordable Care Act plans were expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and were scheduled to expire at the end of 2025 (December 31, 2025).
December 31, 2025
high
policy
Temporary expansion of ACA premium assistance enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic with a scheduled expiration date.
Premium tax credits for Affordable Care Act marketplace enrollees can be applied on a monthly basis to reduce out‑of‑pocket premium costs.
November 20, 2025
high
temporal
Mechanism for how ACA premium assistance is delivered to enrollees.
About one-third of premium tax credit funding does not directly reduce enrollees' monthly insurance premiums.
November 16, 2025
medium
temporal
Claim regarding the share of premium tax credit funds that reach consumer premiums versus other uses.
A 2025 policy proposal sought a two-year extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits with an income phase-out for people earning between $200,000 and $400,000.
November 16, 2025
high
temporal
Description of a legislative proposal to extend and target ACA premium tax credits by income.
About 22 million Americans who buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces receive premium tax credits.
November 14, 2025
high
temporal
Scale of ACA marketplace subsidy recipients.
Premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act reduce health-insurance premiums for people who receive them, and expiration of those subsidies can cause steep premium increases for those relying on the subsidies.
November 12, 2025
high
policy
Role and effect of ACA premium tax credits on insurance affordability
The Affordable Care Act provides premium tax credits to help eligible individuals and families pay health insurance premiums for coverage obtained through the law's marketplaces.
November 10, 2025
high
temporal
Premium tax credits under the ACA reduce out‑of‑pocket premium costs for people who qualify based on income and other eligibility rules.
A 2025 analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) estimated that if enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits expire, the average premium cost for subsidized enrollees would more than double.
November 10, 2025
high
temporal
Quantitative estimate of the effect on average premiums for marketplace enrollees if enhanced subsidies are allowed to lapse.
Enhanced premium subsidies (premium tax credits) under the Affordable Care Act make coverage more affordable for people enrolled through ACA marketplaces (exchanges).
November 09, 2025
high
policy
Premium tax credits reduce out-of-pocket insurance premiums for enrollees in ACA exchanges.
The Affordable Care Act includes premium tax credits (often called subsidies) that reduce health insurance costs for eligible individuals.
November 08, 2025
high
policy
Mechanism within the ACA to make premiums more affordable.
A 2025 KFF calculation estimated that monthly premiums would increase an average of 114% for marketplace coverage if enhanced pandemic-era premium tax credits were allowed to expire.
October 30, 2025
high
temporal
KFF modeled premium outcomes with and without the temporary enhanced premium tax credits enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), often called Obamacare, includes premium tax credits (subsidies) that lower health insurance premiums for people who purchase coverage through health insurance marketplaces.
October 08, 2025
high
definition
Describes the role of premium tax credits within the ACA marketplace framework.
Extending premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act can prevent increases in health insurance premiums and help avert coverage losses compared with allowing those credits to expire.
October 08, 2025
high
policy
States the typical policy effect of maintaining versus allowing expiration of ACA premium tax credits.
A 2025 KFF analysis identified main drivers of recent ACA premium increases as increased demand for costly treatments including GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, higher prices from hospitals and other providers, and insurer assumptions that enrollment could decline if premium tax credits expire.
January 01, 2025
high
temporal
Reported contributors to rising ACA marketplace premiums.
The Inflation Reduction Act, enacted in 2022, extended the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits through 2025.
January 01, 2022
high
policy
Legislative extension of ACA premium subsidies
Temporary enhanced premium tax credits (emergency subsidies) were provided during the COVID-19 pandemic to assist Affordable Care Act marketplace enrollees.
March 11, 2021
high
temporal
Congressional COVID-era policy changes expanded financial assistance for ACA marketplace enrollees on a temporary basis.
In 2021, the U.S. Congress temporarily expanded eligibility for enhanced premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act to help people pay for health insurance amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
January 01, 2021
high
temporal
A legislative, temporary expansion of ACA premium subsidy eligibility tied to pandemic-era relief.
The Biden administration enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits in 2021 with the stated goal of making healthcare more available to a wider swath of Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
January 01, 2021
high
policy
Policy change to ACA premium subsidies during the COVID-19 pandemic
A 2021 expansion of the Affordable Care Act established enhanced premium tax credits for people purchasing health insurance through ACA marketplaces.
January 01, 2021
high
temporal
Policy change expanding subsidies for ACA marketplace enrollees.
Enhanced premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act are subsidies intended to reduce the cost of health insurance premiums for enrollees.
January 01, 2010
high
definition
Describes the purpose of ACA premium tax credits.
Premium tax credits created under the Affordable Care Act can be enhanced by legislation and those enhancements can be made temporary or set to expire.
high
policy
Explains that changes to tax credits within the ACA are subject to legislative action and can include time-limited provisions.
Approximately 22 million people are eligible for Affordable Care Act premium tax credits.
high
statistical
Scale of population reached by ACA premium tax credits as cited in reporting about policy debates.
Premium tax credits and other subsidies enacted under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) can be time-limited and require congressional action to be extended beyond their statutory expiration.
high
policy
Explains the legislative nature of extending health insurance subsidies tied to the ACA.