Arizonans Grapple with Premium Increases of Up to 33% This ACA Open Enrollment Period

Expiration of ACA Tax Credits Resulted in Fewer Covered Arizonans, Higher Premiums

TUCSON —  Arizonans are having to make difficult choices with their health care coverage as many deal with the sticker shock caused by Congressional Republicans allowing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits to expire last year. Between 2025 and 2026, ACA marketplace enrollment in Arizona dropped more than 15 percent from 423,025 to 357,144. 

According to AZ Family:

“Scottsdale resident Darryl Komesu was one of the 357,000 in Arizona who selected insurance through the ACA marketplace last year. This year, he’s facing another tough choice.

‘In our case, we’re talking like tripling the price of a premium,’ Komesu said.

Claudia Maldonado, director of outreach and enrollment with Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers, said similar conversations are happening with a lot of people across the state.

‘We know that there are families and individuals who are kind of having to look at things and make those difficult decisions on whether or not they’re going to continue with their coverage,’ Maldonado said.”

Honest Arizona released a report on the impact of premium increases this year, showing many insurers raising rates by 24 percent or more, with the highest rate increasing by 33 percent. The full report is available online HERE.

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