Health insurance premiums are expected to rise in 2026. Jirsak/Shutterstock
Whether your health insurance coverage is part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or not, you can expect a hefty premium increase in 2026. For example, insurers in New York are filing premium rate increases that range from a modest 0.9 percent to a hefty 66.4 percent, according to insurance services firm Certifi.
Why do insurance premiums continue to increase? Will this force healthy individuals to forgo insurance and take their chances?
Rising Cost of Health Care
Medical inflation contributes to the increase in health insurance costs. According to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, the price of medical care has increased by 121.3 percent since 2000. This includes services, drugs, and medical equipment.
