If you or your family currently get financial help through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), there's an important change you need to know about. Since 2021, many people have received extra savings, called enhanced premium tax credits, from the federal government to offset the cost of their ACA health plans. But starting in 2026, those extra savings are going away.

When the extra premium help goes away, you may notice changes to your monthly costs. That’s because: 

• Prices across the insurance market are expected to change due to external cost pressures for individual ACA plans in 2026
• If you received enhanced premium tax credits, the amount of help from the government will go down – or stop entirely

These two shifts could mean higher costs for millions of Americans.

At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), we know how important affordable health insurance is for you and your family. That’s why we want to make sure you understand how this may impact your 2026 ACA plan. We’re breaking down what’s changing, how it could impact you, and what you can do to prepare. 

These tax credits were introduced under COVID-era relief measures to provide extra help for ACA members and ensure people didn’t pay more than 8.5% of their income for their monthly premium. With these extra savings, some people paid $0 per month for their ACA health plan based on their income.

The extra savings were part of laws passed during the COVID-19 pandemic as a temporary measure to make health insurance more affordable. These measures will expire at the end of 2025. 

These enhanced premium tax credits will expire at the end of 2025. This means:

• Some people will still get help, but not as much
• Others may no longer qualify for help at all
• Many members will see their monthly costs go up when they renew their plan for 2026

Here are a few hypothetical examples of how costs might change: 

These estimates are based on national projections and may vary depending on location, plan type, and where you live. They reflect only the impact of the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits and do not account for any potential premium increases that could result from changes in insurer funding and other market dynamics. You can use the Tax Credit Comparison Calculator to get a more personalized estimate of how your premiums may change. 

At Blue Cross NC, we’re here to help you understand your options. While these changes are driven by federal policy decisions, here are some steps you can take:

• Stay informed about upcoming changes.
• Use the Tax Credit Comparison Calculator to estimate potential cost differences.
• Explore alternative coverage options and financial assistance programs.
• Contact your authorized Blue Cross NC health insurance agent. They can answer your questions and help you understand your options.
• Call the number on the back of your Blue Cross NC ID card, send us a message on Blue Connect or stop by one of our Centers if you have questions. 

For more information, visit AmericansCovered.org.