As ACA Deadline Approaches, Some Price-Sensitive Consumers May Consider Switching to Short-Term Plans

(By Michelle Long for The Kaiser Family Foundation published December 8, 2025)

With the approaching December 15th deadline to enroll in coverage that begins January 1, many ACA Marketplace enrollees may be weighing their coverage options for next year in a new light. With the expiration of the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits looming and Congressional negotiations to extend them stalled, 22 million Marketplace enrollees who currently receive tax credits are expected to see their out-of-pocket premiums more than double, on average, in 2026. According to a new KFF poll, nearly six in ten Marketplace enrollees say they would not be able to afford an annual increase of $300 in health care expenses without significantly disrupting their household finances. Some consumers may decide to purchase alternative coverage products such as short-term plans, a type of private coverage sold directly to consumers outside the Marketplaces, which tend to have lower premiums but few consumer protections and limited benefits. Continue reading here…

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