ACA customers must pay more for less coverage

Rising Affordable Care Act premiums are getting attention, but a deeper problem is being overlooked: Many consumers are paying far more for coverage that is substantially worse.

In my case, my 2025 Kaiser Silver plan had a $640 monthly premium, a $5,100 deductible and a $6,100 out-of-pocket maximum. In 2026, my Kaiser Silver 70 plan costs $1,124 per month, with a similar deductible but an out-of-pocket maximum that jumped to $9,800 — nearly double the premium for far greater financial risk when care is needed.

Compounding the problem, insurers now offer slightly lower prices for comparable plans purchased directly off the exchange, encouraging healthier consumers to leave. This leaves a sicker risk pool behind and drives premiums even higher for those who remain.

Insurance companies benefit either way, while consumers lose real protection. Keeping the same plan names while quietly degrading coverage undermines trust and the exchanges themselves.

Happy New Year!

— Megan Ahn, Oceanside