North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread is sounding the alarm: if Congress does not act soon to extend ACA premium tax credits, nearly 34,000 North Dakotans will see steep spikes in their health insurance premiums — many right here in Bismarck and Burleigh County.
The enhanced credits currently in place help reduce monthly premiums for those using the ACA Marketplace — many are small business owners, farmers, self-employed or residents without employer coverage.
If they expire at year’s end, the average premium for subsidized enrollees could more than double—from ~$888 to ~$1,904 nationally.
In North Dakota, that might mean a jump of $500/month for many ACA users.
Congress is currently mired in negotiations tied to the federal government shutdown and broader budget fights. Tying health subsidies to government funding has added urgency.
The NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners) — led in part by Godfread — has formally urged Congress to extend the enhanced credits before insurers finalize 2026 rates.
Many Bismarck-area workers in small enterprises, startups, or self-employment depend on those tax credits to keep monthly health care costs manageable.
A sudden spike of hundreds of dollars could force tough choices: delay care, reduce coverage, or go uninsured. Local hospitals and clinics may face greater strain from increased uncompensated care.
Open Enrollment for ACA plans begins November 1 — Congress’s window to act is closing fast.
If Congress lets these ACA premium subsidies lapse, Bismarck families could be hit hard — not just numbers on a spreadsheet. The question is no longer theoretical: for many here, it’s about whether they can continue to afford health care.
