During the last few months talk around The ACA marketplace has dominated news headlines, and for good reason. As a small business owner, depending on your current benefits strategy, you may have employees who are feeling the stress of the uncertainty since the tax subsidies are set to expire December 31, 2025. According to industry experts, the chances of health plans doubling in cost after subsidies expire at the end of this year is high. 

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Concerns around the rising costs of health plans for 2026 is one many that business owners are trying to navigate. Especially if they or their employees rely on ACA marketplace health plans for their primary health coverage. 

The ACA Marketplace: A Snapshot of What's Actually Changing and the Impact

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At Meridio we’ve been watching closely the discussions and projected impact, especially given the influx of inquiries we’ve had over the past few months from small business owners looking for better solutions for offering health benefit plans. In a nutshell:  

• ACA marketplace enhanced premium tax credits—the financial cushion that has kept health insurance affordable for millions since 2021—are set to expire December 31, 2025. 
• Impacted individuals may see costs increase over 100%, equating to an extra $20,000 or more in premium they’ll be expected to pay each year.
• Employees are expressing concerns to their employers more than ever regarding their ability to afford and sustain healthcare insurance for themselves and their families

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Bottomline, when enhanced tax credits expire, enrollees currently receiving federal assistance will see an average premium increase of 114% for what they pay out of pocket, according to a recent study done by KFF.org 

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For individuals with incomes just above 400% of the federal poverty level—roughly $62,757 annually—the impact will be most severe. 

• An employee at this income level could see their premium payments triple in some states, eating up almost ¼ of their income
• Quotes from marketplace plans are already showing a cost over $700/mo for an individual

Why These ACA Increases Matter for Small Business Owners

Your employees are the pillars of your business, and right now they are feeling the stress and anxiety of marketplace health plan changes. The increase in premiums means less take-home pay and this is a top priority for employees nationwide. As they weigh the tough choice of being able to afford and keep insurance, or not, they are actively seeking alternative solutions. 

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Meridio is helping business owners like you navigate health benefits strategies amidst the ACA uncertainties, and as options are being weighed based on employee makeup, demographic needs, and budgeting goals, we’re talking through possible routes. 

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As your team members are reevaluating their benefits offering now is the time to prepare with options that fit your workforce needs. While others scramble to react, you can position your organization to navigate these waters with confidence and control, especially with the right partnership.

Strategic Planning for Health Benefits: Missteps That Often Cost Small Businesses

Here’s the reality, business owners don’t have time to become benefits experts, and when trying to navigate the rocky waters alone, they often end up falling into predictable traps. 

• Choosing strategy because it appears you don’t have a choice, especially when it comes to group minimums that force you into overpriced plans. 
• Cobbling together overcomplicated health benefit offerings that create administrative nightmares.  
• Relying on a broker that may not be focused on small-business offerings, who may lock you into plans that don't fit your business needs.
• Jumping into PEO models that don’t fit your overall strategic goals or give you the flexibility - when you actually need it most. 

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Managers and Operations teams are already stretched thin, adding the burden of decoding ACA regulations, evaluating how marketplace changes affect your talent strategy, and ensuring compliance as you grow past critical thresholds like 50 employees—that's a recipe for costly mistakes and missed opportunities. Meridio strives to help owners ease the headache of decoding the market so they can make confident benefits decisions.

A Different Approach: What Strategic Preparation Looks Like

Achieving a benefits strategy that aligns with your organizational goals is absolutely possible, even with ACA marketplace turbulence. In fact, because of this turmoil, business owners alike are using this as an opportunity to become more strategic in how they approach offering health benefits to their teams, by asking the right questions: 

• How will marketplace changes affect the employee population? 
• What control should be protected for my payroll systems, contribution flexibility, and plan scalability? 
• Is it possible to avoid overspending while maintaining competitive coverage that supports employee needs?
• What experts and industry resources can I tap into to help me more effectively build a sustainable strategy in ‘26 and beyond? 

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This allows business owners to understand the impact ACA marketplace dynamics have on their specific situation, and identify clear options that give control over costs and flexibility as teams grow. 

Identifying the Right Partners for Your Success in ‘26 and Beyond

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The key is working with a partner who acts as an extension of your team—one who helps you attract and retain talent, reduce turnover costs, and build a more engaged workforce without adding complexity to your plate. Who will help you avoid overspending while maintaining competitive coverage that supports your employee needs. It means having:

• Transparent pricing so you can budget confidently, and flexible coverage that adapts as your team grows.
• A partner who understands that your benefits strategy isn't just about compliance—it's about supporting your organizational goals and removing friction from your growth trajectory. 
• Personalized support that doesn't disappear when you need answers, but having a relied upon partner that will be there for you year-round vs. reactive, renewal only approach to take the place of a relationship.
  
  

With the right guidance, your small team can access big-team benefits without the cost, complexity, or administrative burden. If you are ready for a conversation,  schedule a quick call with Meridio experts who will answer your questions and provide valuable feedback to help shape your benefits dicesions. And that’s what Meridio is all about.

Taking the Next Step: The Opportunity Window Is Open

Typically, enrollment follows a straightforward timeline: proposals signed by month's end, employees enrolled by the 15th, and coverage active the first of the following month. But "typical" timelines assume typical circumstances. With marketplace disruption on the horizon and enhanced tax credits expiring, now is the time to get ahead of the curve. 

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The organizations that thrive through uncertainty aren't the ones with the biggest budgets or the largest HR departments. They're the ones that recognize when change creates opportunity, and they partner strategically to turn potential chaos into competitive advantage.

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At Meridio, we help small businesses navigate exactly these moments—not with fear-driven urgency, but with clear-eyed strategy and the confidence that comes from having the right partner in your corner. Because when the marketplace shifts, preparation isn't optional, it can become your opportunity to be more strategic with health benefits in 2026 and beyond. 

Can Meridio Help? Let’s Find Out!

Our team is here to assist you in navigating the marketplace uncertainty and the overall rising healthcare premiums and how they will impact your business. With the ability to help you turn this uncertainty into actionable steps to move your business forward. 

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Our mission is to help small businesses - like yours - more effectively and affordably offer health benefits to their teams. If you’d like to learn more about our strategic approach and offerings reach out for a quick 30 minute call today.

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