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The new year began with positive development: the U.S. House of Representatives approved a three-year extension of the enhanced premium tax credits (ePTCs) that help keep Marketplace coverage affordable. Rep. Morgan McGarvey was the only member of Kentucky’s delegation to vote yes. While this action is encouraging, the bill is not expected to pass in the Senate as is. Without continuation of the ePTCs, many more Kentuckians are likely to find health care coverage unaffordable and access to care compromised.
In response to uncertainty regarding the subsidies, insurers have already raised premiums across the board, increasing costs not only for those who get coverage through the Marketplace, but also for employees and employers across Kentucky.
What does this mean? Estimates show that many Marketplace enrollees face dramatic premium increases, while employers are seeing some of the largest premium hikes in nearly a decade. Even companies trying to do the right thing for their employees are struggling to keep coverage in place and affordable for their workers.
At The Asclepius Initiative, we know how this impacts Kentuckians. As our recent research shows, simply having insurance doesn’t mean that people will be able to get the care they need. Study participants reported avoiding or delaying care, skipping medications, waiting months for appointments, or traveling long distances, often because of cost, complexity, or difficulty with provider access.
The challenges we are seeing in 2026 are not fleeting. They reflect worsening problems in a system where coverage can be interrupted – or lost altogether – due to policy shifts, job changes, or uncontrolled escalating costs.
Our goal is to use what we’ve learned to help others understand how the benefits of guaranteed continuous coverage outweigh any disadvantages.
Click here to read more on our blog.
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