In Pennsylvania, some families are finding that health coverage can throw an entire monthly budget off balance.
For one Pennie customer, the cost of keeping the same plan climbed from the hundreds to nearly $1,500 a month, according to PennLive.
Here's what to know
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department says it cannot impose a rate freeze on Affordable Care Act marketplace plans sold through Pennie, even as customers face another round of rate increases.
Donna Gerhardt, a Monroe County resident who gets coverage through Pennie, had an alarming example of how sharp that change can be.
She paid $566 per month in 2024 and $576 per month in 2025 for coverage through Pennie.
In 2026, that same plan costs her $1,496 per month, nearly triple the cost.
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Rate filings released in July show insurers seeking increases ranging from 4.05% to 40.9%.
Weighted by expected enrollment, the proposed hikes average 17.1% in the individual market and 11.5% for small-group plans.
These requests come after enhanced federal subsidies expired, leaving ACA marketplace buyers with less help paying premiums as average rates rose 21.5% for the 2026 plan year.
More background
An increase of that size does not stay confined to an insurance bill.
It can force families to rearrange the rest of their spending, putting health coverage in direct competition with basics like groceries, rent, and utility bills.
Another concern is what happens if higher prices push healthier customers to drop coverage.
Advocates and regulators warn that a smaller, sicker pool of enrollees could make insurance even more expensive, leading to further premium increases.
PennLive noted that the Pennsylvania Insurance Department will examine whether insurers' projected costs actually justify the larger rate increases they want.
What can be done?
The state's main option is close review rather than an outright freeze.
Regulators can question insurers' assumptions and determine whether the requested increases are supported, even if they cannot undo the pressure created by the end of the subsidies.
That combination of lost federal aid and rising premiums can leave households cornered.
Many people are left choosing between paying far more for coverage, cutting other expenses, or going without insurance.
"Nothing changed. My income didn't change, and I was even with the same insurance company. To go from that to almost three times the amount was really quite a shock," Gerhardt told PennLive.
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