My ACA Premiums Could Double! A Crushing Blow for Ohio Families

Worried your ACA premiums might skyrocket in Ohio? We explain the coming crisis and what you can do now to prepare your finances for the potential shock.

A storm is gathering on the financial horizon for thousands of Ohio families, and it threatens to wash away budgets and endanger access to critical healthcare. If you rely on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for your health insurance, you may be facing a shocking reality in 2026: your monthly ACA premiums could double. This isn’t a hypothetical fear; it’s a looming crisis rooted in a political deadline that could impact more than half a million people across the state.

For families like the Pughs, who recently faced job loss, this news is more than just a headline—it’s a source of profound anxiety. “I’m seeing people post their insurance prices going up $2,000 a month,” Deshauna Pugh shared, echoing the fear felt in countless homes. This potential financial earthquake stems from the scheduled expiration of enhanced premium tax credits in 2025, a critical federal subsidy that has made healthcare affordable for millions.

This article will break down exactly what is happening, why your ACA premiums are at risk, and most importantly, provide a comprehensive roadmap for how you can start preparing your finances for the potential impact right now.

What’s Really Happening with Ohio’s ACA Premiums?

To understand the threat, we first need to understand the mechanism that keeps health insurance affordable for many. The Affordable Care Act established a marketplace where individuals can purchase health insurance. A key component of this system is the premium tax credit, a subsidy from the federal government that lowers the monthly premium for eligible individuals and families.

In recent years, these subsidies were “enhanced,” meaning the government provided even more financial assistance to a wider range of people, significantly lowering out-of-pocket costs. These enhancements were a lifeline, particularly during times of economic uncertainty.

The problem? These enhanced credits were not made permanent. They are set to expire at the end of 2025. If Congress fails to act and extend them, the financial support will vanish. For Ohio, the numbers are staggering.

A Financial Cliff Awaits

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, over 500,000 Ohioans benefited from these enhanced tax credits this year. Without them, the financial burden shifts directly back to the consumer.

A report from KFF, a leading health policy research organization, paints a grim picture. They estimate that the average monthly premium for a benchmark plan in Ohio could leap from approximately $888 in 2025 to more than $1,900 in 2026. That’s an increase of over $1,000 per month, or $12,000 per year, for the average family. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a catastrophic financial event that could force families to choose between their health and their solvency.

State Senator and physician Beth Liston put it bluntly: “Half a million people’s health insurance is at risk. People delay treatment when they don’t have health insurance. And in this case, people are likely going to be losing health insurance.”

The Human Impact: More Than Just Numbers

A potential $12,000 annual increase in expenses is an abstract number until you apply it to a real family’s budget. Imagine a family with a take-home pay of $5,000 a month. They are already juggling a mortgage, car payments, groceries, and childcare. An extra $1,000 a month for ACA premiums isn’t something they can simply absorb. It means devastating choices.

Do they stop saving for retirement? Do they pull their children from extracurricular activities? Do they take on high-interest debt just to stay afloat? Or, in the most dangerous scenario, do they drop their health insurance altogether?

The Dangerous Gamble of Going Uninsured

Opting to go without health insurance is a gamble with life-altering stakes. A single unexpected illness, a car accident, or a serious injury can lead to hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical debt. It’s a primary driver of personal bankruptcy in the United States.

Senator Liston’s warning about delayed treatment is a critical point. When uninsured, a person might ignore a persistent cough, a troubling mole, or chronic pain, hoping it will go away. By the time they finally seek care, a treatable condition may have progressed into a far more serious and costly illness. The long-term health consequences and the ultimate financial cost to both the individual and the healthcare system are immense.

Why This Is More Than Just an ACA Premiums Problem

The expiration of these subsidies doesn’t just impact individual households; it sends a shockwave through the entire state economy. Senator Liston highlighted this, noting, “There’s about a $3 billion deficit that we’ll see. There’ll be $3 billion taken out of Ohio’s economy, out of people’s pockets, if these credits aren’t extended.”

The Ripple Effect on Ohio’s Economy

That $3 billion is money that families would otherwise spend at local grocery stores, restaurants, car repair shops, and small businesses. When hundreds of thousands of families are forced to redirect that money to cover soaring ACA premiums, consumer spending dries up. This can lead to reduced revenue for businesses, potential layoffs, and a general economic slowdown.

Furthermore, it puts a greater strain on state-funded services. When people lose insurance and delay care, they often end up in emergency rooms with more severe conditions, and the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals rises. This burden is eventually passed on to everyone through higher costs and taxes.

The Vicious Cycle of Financial Instability

This healthcare crisis doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s colliding with other significant financial pressures facing Ohioans. As Senator Liston noted, “Our state really should be focusing on the other things that go into keeping people healthy. Affordable housing, living wages, strong public schools, all of those affect health costs.”

When housing costs are high and wages aren’t keeping pace with inflation, a family’s budget is already stretched thin. A sudden, massive increase in a non-negotiable expense like health insurance can be the final straw that breaks a family’s financial back. It creates a vicious cycle where financial stress leads to negative health outcomes, which in turn creates more financial stress.

How to Financially Prepare for a Surge in ACA Premiums

While the situation at the federal level remains uncertain, waiting and hoping is not a strategy. The time to prepare your finances is now. Taking proactive steps can create a crucial buffer and give you more options if the worst-case scenario unfolds.

Step 1: Conduct a Deep and Honest Budget Audit

You cannot prepare for a financial shock if you don’t know exactly where your money is going. It’s time to move beyond a general idea of your expenses and get granular.

• Track Every Dollar: For the next 30 to 60 days, use a budgeting app, a spreadsheet, or a simple notebook to track every single expense. This includes the morning coffee, the online subscription you forgot about, and the impulse buys at the grocery store.
• Categorize and Analyze: Group your spending into categories: fixed needs (mortgage/rent, utilities, car payments), variable needs (groceries, gas), and wants (dining out, entertainment, subscriptions).
• Identify the “Expense Leaks”: Look for patterns. Are you spending more on takeout than you realized? Are there multiple streaming services you rarely use? This isn’t about guilt; it’s about identifying opportunities. Even small cuts of $10 or $20 a month add up significantly over a year.

Step 2: Start an “ACA Premium” Emergency Fund Today

Do not wait until 2025 to start saving. The potential increase is large, and the sooner you start, the more manageable it will be.

• Calculate Your Potential Shortfall: Look at the KFF estimate. If your premium could go up by $1,000 a month, your goal is to save toward that. It’s a daunting number, but any progress is better than none.
• Automate Your Savings: Open a separate high-yield savings account and name it “Health Premium Fund.” Set up an automatic transfer from your checking account every payday, even if it’s just $50 or $100 to start. Automating it makes saving a non-negotiable part of your budget.
• Direct Windfalls to the Fund: If you get a tax refund, a bonus from work, or any unexpected cash, resist the urge to spend it. Deposit it directly into this dedicated fund.

Step 3: Explore and Understand All Your Health Coverage Options

When open enrollment comes around, you need to be an educated consumer. Don’t just auto-renew your current plan. Research every alternative.

• Analyze the Metal Tiers: Understand the difference between Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans. A Bronze plan will have the lowest monthly ACA premiums but the highest deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. If you are relatively healthy, this might be a way to lower your fixed monthly cost, but you must be prepared to cover a high deductible if something happens.
• Learn About Health Savings Accounts (HSAs): If you are eligible for a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), you may also be eligible for an HSA. An HSA is a powerful financial tool with a triple tax advantage: contributions are tax-deductible, the money grows tax-free, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are tax-free. It’s an excellent way to save for both current and future healthcare costs.
• Investigate Other Avenues: Is a change in employment a possibility? If so, research the health benefits of potential employers. While not a solution for everyone, employer-sponsored health insurance is often more affordable than marketplace plans.

Step 4: Focus on Increasing Your Income

Playing defense with your budget is crucial, but playing offense by increasing your income is just as important. The “Work to Wealth” philosophy is about creating financial resilience from all angles.

• Negotiate a Raise: Research your market value using online salary tools. Document your accomplishments and contributions to your company and schedule a meeting with your manager to formally request a pay increase.
• Develop a Side Hustle: Think about your skills. Can you do freelance writing, graphic design, or consulting? Can you drive for a ride-sharing service or deliver groceries? A few hundred extra dollars a month can make a huge difference in your ability to absorb a premium increase.
• Invest in Yourself: Consider earning a certification or taking online courses to increase your skills and make you more valuable in the job market. This is a long-term strategy that can pay dividends for years to come.

Your Voice Matters: How to Advocate for Change

Financial preparation is your personal line of defense, but this is a systemic problem that requires a policy solution. Senator Liston’s call to action is one every Ohioan should heed: “Share your stories, call your representatives and Governor DeWine. I hope they’ll use their voices to protect people in Ohio.”

Your personal story is more powerful than any statistic. When lawmakers hear directly from constituents about how a policy decision will affect their ability to care for their sick child or manage their own chronic illness, it has a profound impact.

Find your state and federal representatives online. Call their offices. Write emails. Explain your situation and what a doubling of your ACA premiums would mean for your family. Collective action creates pressure and can lead to the legislative fix that is so desperately needed.

The coming year will be a period of uncertainty for hundreds of thousands of Ohioans. The threat to affordable healthcare is real and severe. But by taking control of your finances, understanding your options, and using your voice, you can build a fortress around your family’s budget and advocate for a future where no one has to choose between their health and their financial stability.