Kentuckians shopping for health insurance for 2026 are being urged to carefully review their plans, as record premium increases and expiring federal tax credits are expected to significantly alter out-of-pocket costs. For many families, expenses may rise even if their income and coverage remain the same.
In past years, many consumers simply kept their existing plan during open enrollment. But officials warn that doing so this year could leave individuals “stuck” in an unaffordable plan or unable to maintain coverage at all. They encourage all residents to compare options on kynect.ky.gov before making final decisions.
Some Kentuckians may be able to soften the financial impact by switching — or “trading down” — to lower-tier plans such as Silver or Bronze options. However, experts caution that this approach comes with trade-offs: less comprehensive coverage and higher deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. Additionally, when healthier individuals migrate to cheaper plans, the remaining risk pool becomes more expensive, driving premiums even higher across the board. Advocates say this cycle highlights the broader instability of the health insurance market, noting that regardless of what Congress does — or doesn’t do — costs continue to climb.
For now, officials say Kentucky families should focus on staying insured for the coming year. While premium increases are painful, they stress that going without coverage during a period of rising medical costs and economic uncertainty poses far greater risks.
