It’s Beat-The-Clock Time In D.C. As Shutdown Looms

Per usual the “Colonel” leaves out some important information –

“For 2026, across 312 insurers participating in the ACA Marketplaces from the 50 states and the District of Columbia, this analysis shows a median proposed premium increase of 18%, which is about 11 percentage points higher than last year. This is the largest rate change insurers have requested since 2018, the last time that policy uncertainty contributed to sharp premium increases. On average, ACA Marketplace insurers are raising premiums by about 20% in 2026. Based on a more detailed analysis of available documents from insurers in 19 states and the District of Columbia, like in prior years, growth in health care prices stood out as a key factor driving costs in 2026. Insurers cite increasing cost and utilization of high-priced drugs as well as general market factors, such as increasing labor costs and inflation, as contributing to premium increases.

In addition to rising healthcare costs, the majority of insurers are also taking into account the potential expiration of enhanced premium tax credits in their premium rate increases for the next year. The expiration of enhanced tax credits will lead to out-of-pocket premiums for ACA marketplace enrollees increasing by an average of more than 75%, with insurers expecting healthier enrollees to drop coverage.

That, in turn, increases underlying premiums. Other federal policy changes, like the implementation of tariffs and the ACA Marketplace Integrity and Affordability rule were also discussed, though to a lesser extent.””

AND

“Fact Check: Have healthcare costs risen faster since the Affordable Care Act was passed?
By Keshav Srikant·April 22, 2025

NO

While health care costs have continued to increase since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law in 2010, they’ve done so at a slower rate than in the years before the law was passed.

A 2021 study published in JAMA found that out-of-pocket healthcare expenses increased at an average of 3.4% a year from 2000-2009 and 1.9% a year from 2010-2018, after the ACA. This may be partially attributable to macroeconomic conditions: inflation was slightly lower from 2010 to 2018 (1.77%) than 2000-2009 (2.56%). A 2020 Health Affairs study noted annual healthcare spending growth decreased from 6.9% (2000-2009) to 4.3% (2010-2018) post-ACA, and that though the literature debated the ACA’s role in this, no paper linked the ACA to increased growth in healthcare spending.

In 2023 dollars, healthcare spending per person was about $11,150 in 2010 and $14,500 by 2023.”