Thousands of middle-class Californians who rely on the state-run health insurance market face premiums thousands of dollars higher than last year as enhanced federal subsidies begun during the coronavirus pandemic have expired.

The number of Californians insured has remained stable so far, according to state data, despite concerns that the end of supplemental benefits could lead to more people becoming uninsured.

But that may change.

Jessica Altman, executive director of Covered California, said she believes more people may drop their insurance as they receive bills with newly increased premiums in the mail this month. She said better data on enrollment will be available in the spring.

Altman said that even though the supplemental benefits ended on Dec. 31, 92% of enrollees continue to receive government subsidies to help pay for their health insurance. Nearly half are eligible for health insurance that costs less than $10 a month. Additionally, 17% of Californians who renew their California coverage will not pay any premiums if they keep their current plan.

The deadline to register for the 2026 benefit is Saturday.

This will help sort out what the expiration of enhanced subsidies for insurance provided under the Affordable Care Act, often referred to as Obamacare, means in the Golden State.

What is expired?

In 2021, Congress passed a temporary increase in the amount of subsidies Americans can receive for ACA plans. The law also expanded the program to families with more money. Before the vote, only Americans with incomes below 400% of the federal poverty level (currently $62,600 per year for a single person and $128,600 per year for a family of four) were eligible for ACA subsidies. The 2021 vote removed the income limit, capping premiums for high-income households at 8.5% of income or less.

How are costs likely to change this year for those enrolled in Covered California?

People with incomes above 400% of the federal poverty level will no longer receive subsidies. And many people below that level will not receive as much support as they have since 2021. At the same time, soaring medical costs have pushed California’s average premiums up by more than 10.3% this year, further burdening families.

For a married couple in Los Angeles with two children and a household income of $90,000, how much will their net monthly premiums go up?

Net premiums for a family on a standard silver plan will jump from $414 a month last year to $699 a month this year, Covered California reported. That’s a 69% increase and will cost families an additional $3,420 this year.

Who else could face significantly higher medical costs?

People who retired before age 65, the age at which they became eligible for Medicare, would be especially hard hit, believing the enhanced subsidies would be permanent. People with incomes above 400% of the federal poverty level could now face thousands of dollars in additional health insurance costs.

How has my enrollment in Covered California changed after the enhanced subsidies ended on December 31st?

As of January 17, 1,906,033 Californians were insured for 2026. That’s less than 1% less than the 1,921,840 people who registered by this time last year.

Who relies on Covered California?

Most of the participants are people who cannot enroll in their employer’s health insurance plan and are not eligible for Medi-Cal, the government-funded insurance for low-income and disabled people.

analysis A study by KFF, a nonprofit organization that provides health policy information, found that nearly half of adults enrolled in ACA plans are small business owners or employees, or are self-employed. The analysis found that occupations that use health insurance exchanges to purchase ACA plans include real estate agents, farmers, chiropractors and musicians.

What is the underlying problem?

Health spending has continued to grow faster than overall inflation in recent years. People are currently spending more than $15,000 per person About annual health management. Today, health spending accounts for approximately 18% of the U.S. economy, meaning that nearly one in every five dollars spent in the United States goes toward health care. In 1960, health spending was only 5% of the economy.

What has California done to help people who are paying more?

The state government has allocated $190 million this year to provide grants to people with incomes up to 165% of the federal poverty level. The funding will help bring monthly premiums in line with 2025 levels for people with annual incomes of $23,475 or less for an individual or $48,225 or less for a family of four, Covered California said.

Where can I register?

You can find out if you qualify for financial assistance and explore your compensation options on our website CoveredCA.com.

What if I decide to go without health insurance?

People without insurance can face tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills if they get sick or injured. And under California law, those without insurance face fines of at least $900 per year per adult and $450 per child.