Source: Fortune.com
Summary
According to new federal data, about 3 million fewer people in the US had Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance plans in February 2026 compared to the same time last year. The 13% drop in enrollment could be attributed to the expiration of federal subsidies, which caused a surge in plan costs. Health analysts said this led to many people being unable to pay their premiums. The data shows the government’s first official look at how people’s inability to pay their first bills this year affected total enrollment.
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The numbers tell one story.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment dropped by 13% from 22.1 million people in 2025 to 19.2 million this year. The US Department of Health and Human Services suggested the drop could be due to a crackdown on fraudulent enrollment, but health analysts attribute it to the expiration of federal subsidies. The subsidies’ expiration led to a surge in plan costs, making it difficult for people to pay their premiums. Cynthia Cox, a vice president at KFF, expects the total number of people in the government healthcare program to continue to decline throughout the year.
The strategy enters a familiar phase: blaming “phantom” enrollment for the decline, while ignoring the elephant in the room – the expiration of federal subsidies.
Author: Evan Null
