You log into the ACA marketplace November 1 to shop for 2026 coverage. Your current plan costs $200 monthly. The new price? $400.
Welcome to open enrollment during a congressional meltdown.
Millions of Americans shopping for health insurance this month face premium chaos they didn’t see coming. Congress still hasn’t decided whether to extend enhanced ACA subsidies. Many state marketplaces delayed sending premium notices. The federal system isn’t required to notify you at all.
The result? You’re shopping blind while lawmakers argue over your insurance budget.
Why Premium Notices Disappeared for 28 States
Normally, state marketplaces send notices showing your net premium—the amount after subsidies. Not this year.
“Many state marketplaces have hit delay on sending consumers notices of net premiums, which take premium tax credits into account,” explains Sabrina Corlette, Co-director of Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms.
Here’s what makes it worse: The 28 states using federally facilitated marketplaces never send premium notices anyway. You only see preliminary prices when you log in. If your insurer opted out or your plan changed, you might get zero warning until you check yourself.
Translation: Don’t expect your marketplace or insurer to tell you about 2026 costs. You have to hunt for that information.
What Congressional Deadlock Does to Your Wallet
Enhanced ACA subsidies made health insurance affordable for millions. If Congress doesn’t extend them, premiums could spike dramatically.
How dramatically? Some enrollees might see premiums double.
The three factors driving this:
- Enhanced subsidies expire without Congressional action, stripping away the extra financial help that kept premiums low since 2021.
- Insurance companies already filed 2026 rates assuming subsidies might end, so they priced in higher consumer costs to maintain revenue.
- Marketplace confusion delays the usual subsidy calculations that automatically adjust your premium based on income.
Cynthia Cox, Vice President and Director of the Program on the ACA at Kaiser Family Foundation, warns: “If someone logs on Nov. 1 and sees their premium doubling, they might just walk away.”
That’s exactly what Congress wants to prevent—but they haven’t acted yet.
Should You Buy Coverage Now or Wait for Congress?
Here’s your dilemma: Open enrollment runs through mid-December in most states. Congress might extend subsidies tomorrow, next month, or never. What do you do today?
Experts say: Enroll anyway. Here’s why that makes sense:
If Congress extends subsidies retroactively (which they’ve done before), your premium gets adjusted automatically. You’re not stuck paying the higher rate permanently. But if you skip enrollment hoping for a better deal later, you risk missing the deadline entirely.
Going uninsured costs more than temporary premium shock. Medical bills without insurance can hit thousands of dollars for a single emergency room visit. Plus, you lose access to preventive care, prescriptions, and specialist visits.
“The longer this goes on, the more damage is done,” Cox notes. The damage includes people dropping coverage they actually need because sticker shock scared them off.
How to Shop Smart During Open Enrollment Chaos
You can’t control Congress. But you can control your enrollment strategy.
Three actions that protect you right now:
- Compare all available plans on your state marketplace, not just your current plan. Sometimes switching to a different insurer saves money even without subsidy changes. Check bronze, silver, and gold tiers—premium differences might surprise you.
- Calculate worst-case and best-case premium costs. Assume subsidies expire (worst case) and assume they continue (best case). Budget for the higher number but hope for the lower one.
- Monitor Congressional news through December. Follow KFF Health News and Georgetown’s health insurance reform updates for real-time subsidy extension announcements.
Don’t wait until the last week of open enrollment. Early shoppers have time to adjust if Congress acts. Last-minute enrollees might miss retroactive subsidy benefits if they enroll after a deal passes.
What Happens If You Skip Coverage This Year
Some people see doubled premiums and think, “I’ll just go without insurance for 2026.”
Bad move. Here’s what you’re risking:
| Without Insurance | With Insurance (Even at Higher Cost) |
|---|---|
| Emergency room visit: $1,500-$3,000+ out-of-pocket | Emergency room visit: Copay $250-$500 |
| Prescription drugs: Full retail price | Prescription drugs: Copay $10-$50 |
| Preventive care: Delayed or skipped | Preventive care: $0 (covered 100%) |
| Specialist visit: $200-$400 per appointment | Specialist visit: Copay $40-$75 |
One medical emergency wipes out any premium savings from skipping coverage. Plus, you can’t get insurance mid-year unless you qualify for a special enrollment period (job loss, marriage, moving states). Miss the December deadline and you’re uninsured until November 2026.
When Congress Might Actually Decide
Nobody knows for certain. The stalemate continues because lawmakers tie ACA subsidy extensions to larger budget negotiations. Some possible timelines:
- Mid-November deal: Congress could bundle subsidy extensions with other year-end spending bills before Thanksgiving recess.
- December lame-duck session: More likely scenario—lawmakers wait until the last minute to negotiate, potentially extending subsidies right before holidays.
- Early 2026 retroactive fix: Worst case for consumers—Congress extends subsidies in January or February 2026, making adjustments retroactive to January 1 but causing months of confusion.
Retroactive extensions have happened before. But relying on them means gambling with your coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Congress extend ACA subsidies for 2026?
Unknown as of November 2025. Congress has not reached a deal to extend enhanced ACA subsidies beyond their current expiration. Previous extensions happened close to deadlines, so a last-minute deal remains possible. However, experts warn against assuming Congress will act—enroll in coverage regardless and adjust later if subsidies get extended retroactively.
Why didn’t I receive a premium notice for 2026?
Many state marketplaces delayed sending premium notices due to Congressional uncertainty about subsidy extensions. The 28 states using federally facilitated marketplaces don’t send notices at all—you must log into HealthCare.gov to check 2026 plan prices. Don’t rely on your insurer or marketplace to notify you about premium changes.
What should I do if my premium doubled during open enrollment?
Enroll anyway. Compare all available plans on your state marketplace—switching insurers might reduce costs even without subsidy changes. If Congress extends subsidies retroactively (which they’ve done before), your premium gets adjusted automatically. Going uninsured costs far more than temporary premium increases, with emergency room visits reaching $1,500-$3,000 out-of-pocket versus $250-$500 copays with coverage.
Which states are affected by the federal marketplace premium notice issue?
All 28 states using federally facilitated marketplaces (HealthCare.gov) receive no official premium notices for 2026 coverage. You must log into the marketplace portal to view updated plan prices. State-based marketplaces typically send notices but many delayed them this year due to subsidy uncertainty.
Can I get subsidies if Congress doesn’t act before the enrollment deadline?
Basic ACA subsidies (premium tax credits) continue regardless of Congressional action. However, the enhanced subsidies that significantly lowered premiums since 2021 will expire without Congressional extension. You’ll still receive some subsidy help based on your income, but your net premium will likely increase substantially compared to 2025 rates.
Bottom Line: Enroll Now, Adjust Later
Congressional chaos shouldn’t force you into uninsured status.
Yes, premiums look scary right now. But walking away from coverage costs more than sticker shock. Medical bills without insurance destroy budgets faster than doubled premiums.
The smart move: Enroll during open enrollment (ends mid-December in most states). Compare all available plans on your marketplace. Monitor Congressional news through year-end for subsidy extension announcements.
If Congress extends subsidies retroactively, your premium drops automatically. If they don’t, you still have coverage protecting you from catastrophic medical costs. Either way, you’re better off enrolled than uninsured.
Don’t let political gridlock force you into a gamble with your health. Visit HealthCare.gov or your state marketplace today—before the December deadline locks you out until next November.