Submitted story | January 19, 2026

KHI new analysis shows higher costs and reduced insurer choice in 2026

TOPEKA, KANSAS, January 2026 – New analysis from the Kansas Health Institute shows that many Kansans who buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace will face significantly higher premium costs this year following the expiration of enhanced federal tax credits. KHI today released analysis in its latest issue brief, 2026 Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace.

The enhanced Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTC) created under the American Rescue Plan Act and extended through the Inflation Reduction Act expired at the end of 2025. As Congress considers whether to reinstate or revise enhanced premium assistance, KHI analysis indicates that most marketplace enrollees are likely to pay more for coverage in plan year 2026.

In Kansas, six insurers are offering 64 health insurance plans on the marketplace. While most counties continue to have at least two insurers offering coverage, 14 counties now have only one insurer for the first time, raising concerns about competition and consumer choice in parts of the state.

KHI’s analysis shows the average monthly premium for a benchmark silver plan for a family of four in Kansas increased from $1,848 in 2025 to $2,381 in 2026 – a 28.9 percent increase before applying Advance Premium Tax Credits. In addition to higher premiums, deductibles for benchmark silver plans in 2026 range from $4,000 to $6,000 for an individual, and $8,000 to $12,000 for a family of four.

“The expiration of enhanced premium tax credits means many Kansans will feel the impact of rising premiums more directly in 2026,” said Cynthia Snyder, KHI senior analyst. “Premium increases have been driven by higher medical costs and market changes, and without enhanced assistance, those increases translate into higher out-of-pocket costs for families.”

The impact will be especially notable for lower-income enrollees. Kansans with incomes between 100 percent and 150 percent of the federal poverty level, who previously had $0 or nearly $0 premiums under enhanced tax credits, are now expected to pay between 2.1 percent and 4.2 percent of their income for a silver plan in 2026.

Individuals and households at 250 percent FPL will pay double what they would have paid with enhanced APTC. A family of four making $80,375 will pay around 8.4 percent of their income on premium costs, up from 4.0 percent with enhanced APTC – an additional cost of around $300 per month.

These findings arrive as legislators consider health care affordability, access to coverage and market stability during the session. KHI will continue to provide nonpartisan research and policy analysis to inform policy discussions related to health insurance and health care costs in Kansas.

For additional information or to arrange an interview, please contact KHI Director of Strategic Communication and Engagement Theresa Freed by cell at 316-305-5190, or by email at tfreed@khi.org.