Californians face steep Covered California premium surge | JQJO

Californians face steep premium hikes on the Covered California exchange as open enrollment begins Saturday, with federally subsidized plans set to jump 97% on average in 2026 if enhanced tax credits lapse amid the federal shutdown. Executive Director Jessica Altman warns as many as 400,000 enrollees could drop coverage, despite a new $190 million state credit for people earning up to 150% of the federal poverty level. Without subsidies, costs would rise about $125 a month on average, on top of a roughly 10% increase, straining workers from bartenders to freelancers and pushing more people toward going uninsured.