More US Health Insurers Retreat From ACA Marketplaces for 2027 as Premiums Rise

The outlook for the US individual health insurance market is tightening for 2027, according to tracking by health policy researchers. A number of carriers have announced plans to leave Affordable Care Act marketplaces in some or all of the states where they currently operate, while a smaller group intends to enter new states, and at least one large insurer has decided to exit the individual market entirely. At the same time, early rate filings from insurers point to sizeable premium increases for 2027, in many cases in the double digits. The pressure stems largely from the expiration at the end of 2025 of enhanced premium tax credits, which had lowered out-of-pocket costs and helped push enrollment to record highs; their lapse has raised what consumers pay and contributed to falling sign-ups. As membership shrinks, insurers are reassessing the profitability of marketplace participation, and in some regions fewer competing carriers will mean less choice for shoppers. Analysts warn that a smaller, potentially sicker risk pool could push premiums higher still, reinforcing a cycle of rising costs and declining coverage.