Where ACA benchmark premiums are rising the most in 2026

Arkansas will see the largest percentage increase in average ACA benchmark premiums between 2025 and 2026, while Alaska is the only state where the average benchmark premium will decline, according to KFF.

The U.S. average increase is 26%. Premiums were analyzed using the second-lowest-cost silver (benchmark) premium for a 40-year-old in each county and weighted by county plan selections.

States ranked by percentage change in average benchmark premiums from 2025 to 2026:

1. Arkansas: 69%
2. Washington: 41%
3. Tennessee: 38%
4. Mississippi: 37%
5. Illinois: 36%
6. Texas: 35%
7. Kentucky: 34%
8. Florida: 33%
9. Kansas: 31%
10. Arizona: 30%
11. Maine: 30%
12. Michigan: 30%
13. Delaware: 29%
14. Connecticut: 26%
15. North Carolina: 26%
16. Georgia: 25%
17. Montana: 25%
18. Wyoming: 25%
19. Indiana: 24%
20. Missouri: 24%
21. Pennsylvania: 24%
22. Wisconsin: 24%
23. Louisiana: 23%
24. Minnesota: 23%
25. New Hampshire: 23%
26. Virginia: 22%
27. Alabama: 21%
28. New Mexico: 21%
29. Oklahoma: 21%
30. Colorado: 20%
31. Nevada: 20%
32. South Carolina: 20%
33. Nebraska: 19%
34. Rhode Island: 19%
35. Iowa: 17%
36. Utah: 17%
37. West Virginia: 17%
38. Ohio: 16%
39. Maryland: 13%
40. Idaho: 12%
41. California: 11%
42. Massachusetts: 11%
43. New Jersey: 11%
44. Hawaii: 10%
45. North Dakota: 6%
46. Oregon: 6%
47. South Dakota: 6%
48. District of Columbia: 5%
49. New York: 3%
50. Vermont: 2%
51. Alaska: -1%