Nearly 1 Million NC Face Big ACA Premium Hikes

Open enrollment for Affordable Care Act plans begins Nov. 1 and runs through mid-January, with a Dec. 15 deadline to have coverage start Jan. 1; consumers can compare plans and sign up at HealthCare.gov. Nearly 1 million North Carolinians are expected to see approved premium increases averaging nearly 30%, with individual policy hikes about 16.9%–36.4% and group increases roughly 12.7%–17.5%. A Kaiser Family Foundation analysis found insurers nationwide are proposing average premium increases of about 26% for 2026 and noted roughly 24 million Americans are enrolled in ACA plans; KFF warned costs could rise far more if COVID-era enhanced premium tax credits are not extended. The fate of those enhanced federal subsidies — a central issue in the current federal government shutdown — will largely determine whether premiums spike further, with Democrats pressing to extend them and Republicans opposing extension. Local legal-aid groups and news outlets are offering enrollment assistance and explainers to help consumers navigate rising costs and plan choices.