The renewal guide · Part 2 of 6
What's moving for 2026, before you see a single price.
Every fall, three things get reset at once: what plans cost, what help you get paying for them, and which plans exist at all. Here's each one in plain terms.
Sticker prices are going up
Insurers set new rates every year, and for 2026 the proposed increases run roughly 15% on average nationwide. Utah's numbers will be their own, but the direction is up.
A higher sticker price does not automatically mean you'll pay more. Keep reading.
Your savings get recalculated too
Most households don't pay the sticker price. A federal discount comes off the top, and it's recalculated for 2026 right alongside the rates. The formula gets its yearly tune-up, the poverty guidelines it leans on get updated, and the benchmark plan that anchors everyone's discount can move as well.
When rates rise, the discount often rises with them. Whether you come out ahead or behind is personal. It depends on your county, your household, and your income. That's exactly what the plan finder computes for you.
Some plans get retired
Carriers redraw their lineups every year. If your plan is discontinued, you'd be moved to its closest replacement automatically, which is fine, but the closest replacement isn't always the best deal on the shelf. Worth a look either way.
The window for changes is short
You can change plans between November 1 and December 15 (45 days, once a year). Outside that window it takes a qualifying life event, like moving, getting married, or losing other coverage. Looking early means deciding calmly instead of against a deadline.