Nationwide enrollment in the Affordable Care Act marketplace could drop by nearly 5 million people this year. A report from KFF finds that enrollment in Healthcare.gov and other marketplaces is plunging, with the program potentially shrinking by more than 20 percent.
This decline follows a lapse in federal subsidies that had reduced insurance premiums for millions of people. The downturn comes after Congress failed to reach a deal to keep coverage more affordable.
Those who remain covered are facing higher costs, with average deductibles growing by over 1,000 dollars. Furthermore, an uptick in people skipping premium payments in many states suggests that these rising costs are already hitting 2026 enrollees.