Press Herald - Affordable Care Act premiums are set to skyrocket in Maine in 2026. Premiums will increase an average of 23.9% on the ACA individual marketplace, which has about 71,000 enrollees in Maine. Officials say the premium increases are being driven by the overall spike in the cost of health care, higher costs for prescription drugs and uncertainty in whether Congress will extend some ACA subsidies.
Maine’s drought has worsened for weeks, and while that helped fuel an unusually high number of wildfires in August, ecologists say it may dampen the fiery leaves Maine is known for as fall arrives. The state’s foliage spokesperson says the weekslong dry spell affecting most of Maine could shorten the peak of leaf-peeping season and make the autumn colors less vibrant.