What to know: ACA open enrollment kicks off Nov. 1 in the Delaware Valley

Plan prices and cost saving options

The actual amount someone will pay for their monthly premium depends on if they are eligible for federal tax credits, which reduce monthly premium costs. They are calculated based on someone’s income and household size during the online enrollment process and are immediately applied to monthly premium charges after plans are selected and coverage begins in 2025.

Many people received boosted tax credit amounts during the COVID-19 pandemic when Congress passed additional funding for ACA financial assistance.

After tax credits were applied, the average monthly premium in Delaware for 2024 coverage was about $147, and about 17% of all enrollees paid $10 or less a month, according to state officials.

In Pennsylvania, about nine in 10 ACA enrollees qualify for these tax credits.

“Without the tax credits, without those financial savings, a lot of the health plans would cost $500 a month,” Trolley said. “And what we see many people pay is $10, $50, $100. It’s really significant savings.”

But as pandemic-era funding runs out, state insurance officials warn that this open enrollment period for coverage in 2025 could be the last year of those enhanced, boosted tax credits if Congress does not appropriate more money going forward, which means many people could see their premium costs rise significantly in 2026.

In addition to federal tax credits, people in New Jersey can also apply for a state subsidy called the New Jersey Health Plan Savings, which also reduces monthly premium costs for eligible residents.

Justin Zimmerman, the commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, said residents will also benefit from new state laws that cap some out-of-pocket prescription costs.

“All Get Covered New Jersey health plans will cap the out-of-pocket costs of insulin at $35 a month as well as cap out-of-pocket costs for EpiPens at $25 and asthma inhalers at $50 for a monthly supply,” Zimmerman said.