The Big Story 

The Trump administration on Tuesday touted the affordability of 2026 ObamaCare plans, the first public rebuttal to counter claims of skyrocketing premiums without an extension of enhanced tax credits. 

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People who get their health insurance through Healthcare.gov, the federal health insurance marketplace, will pay on average  $50 per month for the lowest cost “bronze” plans after the application of existing tax credits, according to a fact sheet from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

CMS said nearly 60 percent of eligible re-enrollees will have access to a plan in their chosen health plan category at or below $50. 

That would be $13 more on average than in 2025, but CMS said it’s still $20 less than the average in 2020, before the enhanced subsidies were enacted. 

“When compared to years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Marketplace enrollees this year will have access to, on average, plans with lower premiums after tax credits and more plan choices overall,” CMS said. 

CMS noted that the vast majority of enrollees will still receive financial assistance even if the enhanced, COVID-19 era subsidies expire.  

“On average, tax credits are projected to cover 91 percent of the lowest cost plan premium in 2026 for eligible enrollees. This compares to 85 percent in the 2020 coverage year, which was the last coverage year not impacted by temporary COVID-19 pandemic policies,” the agency wrote. 

But the fact sheet focused on bronze plans rather than the average “silver” plan that the majority of people purchase. Fewer than a third of enrollees typically buy a bronze plan.

According to health research organization KFF, premium payments are estimated to increase 114 percent for people currently getting a tax credit to keep their same plan.

The enhanced credits, passed and extended twice during the Biden administration, have made insurance much more affordable.

For those at the poverty line — earning between $15,000 to $20,000 a year — instead of contributing between 2 percent and 3 percent of their income, they were eligible for “zero premiums” plans. Low-income people can get a zero-premium silver plan with a deductible of $87, on average.

They may still be eligible for a zero or near zero premium bronze plan next year, but according to KFF it would come with a deductible more than $7,000 higher than what they pay currently.

CMS released the fact sheet ahead of the Nov. 1. start date of open enrollment. Democrats have long argued that if the enhanced federal subsidies aren’t renewed by that point, the impact on consumers will be dramatic.

Millions of people will see major price hikes on their plans, and the concern is many will decide not to be insured. 

But the administration has not yet opened the HealthCare.gov website for window-shopping to allow consumers to select and compare plans ahead of time.  

Senate Democrats on Monday called on the Trump administration to “stop hiding” premium increases and open window shopping immediately.  

An HHS spokesperson said window shopping will launch before Saturday.  

Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.

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