The ACA's enhanced tax credits expire on December 31, 2025, causing health insurance costs to skyrocket for millions of Americans in 2026[1][2][3]. According to KFF, average insurance payments for subsidized policyholders will increase by 114%, from $888 in 2025 to $1,904 per year[1][3][4]. Insurers are proposing a median price increase of 18%, the largest since 2018[1][2]. For a 60-year-old couple with an income of $85,000 (402% of the poverty level), annual payments can increase by more than $22,600[1][2]. An estimated 4 million people will lose coverage in the ACA marketplace and become uninsured[2]. The average deductible for bronze plans will rise to $7,500 and the maximum out-of-pocket to $10,600[4]. These changes will affect people without employer insurance who do not qualify for Medicaid or Medicare[3].