Overview
- CMS reports roughly 22.97 million plan selections for 2026, down about 1.2 million from last year, with 15.8 million on HealthCare.gov and 7.2 million on state exchanges.
- New sign-ups fell to about 3.4 million and returning consumers to about 19.6 million, with experts noting many auto-reenrolled members may not keep coverage once higher bills arrive.
- KFF estimates average total premiums for subsidized enrollees rose to about $1,904 from $888, pushing more consumers toward higher-deductible options or out of the market.
- Enrollment shifts varied widely by state: Texas added about 206,000 enrollees, while North Carolina fell 22% and Ohio 20%; New Mexico and Washington, D.C., posted gains.
- Policy relief remains uncertain after House passage of a three-year subsidy extension, as Senate talks continue over narrower options and analysts look to early April for paid-enrollment data.