Idaho began open enrollment for Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans on Wednesday, providing a preview of the steep premium increases projected nationwide in 2026.
The expiration of enhanced subsidies, which helped lower premiums for many middle-class families, will leave many Idahoans facing unaffordable coverage next year.
Bob McMichael, 63, and his wife, Leslie, 62, both retired and earning about $42,000 annually, currently pay $51 per month for their ACA plan. Without subsidies, their monthly premium would skyrocket to $2,232 in 2026.
“We’re facing a stratospheric increase in health care and probably won’t have any option to stay covered as of January 2026,” McMichael said.
The McMichaels contacted Senator Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, urging support to extend the subsidies. The issue has become central to the ongoing government shutdown negotiations. Democrats have insisted that Republicans maintain enhanced subsidies, first introduced in 2021, as a condition for reopening the government.
State officials estimate that average out-of-pocket premiums in Idaho could rise $1,200 annually, a 75% increase, if the subsidies expire.
“A significant number of people will see their premiums double, if not more,” said Hillarie Matlock, policy director at Idaho Voices for Children, a nonprofit advocating for health insurance access.
More than 100,000 Idaho residents received enhanced subsidies this year, roughly 87% of all ACA enrollees in the state, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Without subsidies, roughly 25,000 Idahoans could drop coverage next year, said Pat Kelly, executive director of Your Health Idaho, the state’s ACA marketplace.
Kelly emphasized that the state has spent the past year preparing for the subsidy expiration and anticipated premium increases. “We’ve trained agents on how to communicate these changes effectively to consumers,” he said.
Experts warn that premium hikes will affect all ACA enrollees. Gideon Lukens, senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, noted that a 60-year-old couple earning $85,000 could see a $1,500 increase in monthly premiums. A family of four earning $130,000 could see a $650 increase.
For those not eligible for subsidies, premiums are also expected to rise by an average of 18% due to insurer rate adjustments. Mark and Sarah Lathrop of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, currently pay $1,116 monthly. Their 2026 plan shows premiums increasing to $1,351, with an out-of-pocket maximum jumping from $12,000 to $18,400. Despite this, they plan to maintain coverage due to ongoing medical needs.
“While my situation isn’t as severe as those losing tax credits, it reflects a broader challenge for small-business owners,” Mark Lathrop said.
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