Paying too much for health insurance? Get ready to pay even more.

Core Insights - Healthcare premiums are projected to rise significantly in 2026, impacting both employer-based plans and those through the Affordable Care Act marketplace [1] Group 1: Current Premium Trends - Family premiums for employer-sponsored health plans have reached an annual average of nearly $27,000, marking a 6% increase from the previous year, with workers contributing an average of $6,850 [2] - Employers anticipate the total health benefit cost per worker to increase by the largest amount in 15 years, indicating a significant upward trend in healthcare costs [2][5] Group 2: Factors Driving Cost Increases - Rising medical costs, influenced by price changes for services, prescription drugs, and increased healthcare utilization, are leading insurers to raise premiums [5] - Employers are facing higher costs due to larger catastrophic claims, increased spending on chronic illnesses, and the use of weight-loss drugs by employees [5] Group 3: Future Projections and Implications - The median premium increase proposed by insurers for Affordable Care Act-regulated plans is 18%, the highest one-year proposed hike since 2018 [6] - Over 24 million Americans are enrolled in the Affordable Care Act marketplace, and the expiration of enhanced premium subsidies may lead to higher out-of-pocket expenses for consumers [7] - Consumers are being informed of higher net premiums, which will affect their decisions during the upcoming open enrollment period [7]