Obamacare enrollment begins amid tighter eligibility rules and steeper premiums

People preparing to enroll in Affordable Care Act coverage should brace for several changes, including higher premiums and fewer plan choices.

The marketplace enrollment period, often called Obamacare, opens in most states and continues through Jan. 15.

Among the changes are the loss of some financial assistance, rising rates, possible delays when working with a broker, new limits for immigrants, and tougher enrollment verification.

Premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions are now limited for many people who previously qualified for help.

Healthcare experts expect coverage to become less generous and more expensive overall. Based on an analysis of new CMS data by the healthcare research nonprofit KFF, the average price of insurance sold through the marketplaces is projected to increase by 13% in 2027.

What is driving the increases

Cynthia Cox, vice president and director of KFF's ACA program, said the main drivers include rising healthcare costs, consolidation among hospitals, and possible influences such as the No Surprises Act, which bars surprise billing, as well as the growing use of GLP-1 drugs.

People who do not qualify for subsidies are expected to feel the sharpest impact from the higher costs.