Since the inception of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), health insurance premiums in the United States have experienced a dramatic rise, more than doubling since 2013.

This increase has been exacerbated by escalating deductibles, which together create significant challenges to affordability. While government subsidies are often promoted as a solution, they tend to conceal the escalating prices, preventing consumers from seeing the actual cost of healthcare.

An underutilized feature of the ACA, Copper plans, offers an alternative with high deductibles but substantially lower premiums. These plans are typically 20 to 30 percent cheaper than Bronze plans and can be up to 60 percent less expensive than Platinum plans.

For many years, Copper plans have been rarely utilized due to substantial restrictions at the federal level. However, that has changed since the Trump administration’s recent “hardship exemptions,” which now allow many more Americans to purchase them during the open enrollment period for 2026.

Similar to other ACA plans, Copper plans include coverage for the 10 essential health benefits, offer preventive services at no cost, and do not deny coverage for pre-existing conditions.

Critics argue that high deductibles may lead patients to delay care, potentially worsening health outcomes. But pairing Copper plans with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Direct Primary Care (DPC) agreements mitigates this concern.