How the Affordable Care Act Affects People Who Buy Health Insurance in the Individual Market

Public debate around the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has focused recently on recipients of private, individual (non-group) insurance whose health plans are being terminated and who fear they may need to pay more for new coverage. This new infographic and accompanying report offers a new perspective on this issue: The individual market covers 5.7 percent of the non-elderly population—a small slice of all insured Americans. Our analysis shows how, under the ACA, only 0.6 percent of Americans under age 65 will be at risk of losing their current individual market plan and will not be income-eligible for financial assistance that will make their new insurance plan more affordable. Even among this 0.6 percent, some have insurers who will not or cannot cancel their plans. Others will decide that they are better off with higher-value plans in the new insurance marketplaces.