Core Insights - Enrollment in Obamacare plans is projected to decline by over 1 million Americans in 2026 due to rising monthly premiums and the expiration of enhanced federal subsidies that were in place during the COVID-19 pandemic [1] Enrollment Data - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reported that 23 million consumers signed up for individual health insurance coverage through the Marketplaces during the 2026 open enrollment period, with 15.8 million using HealthCare.gov and 7.2 million using state-based exchanges [2] - Enrollment as of mid-January 2026 was down approximately 1.2 million compared to the 24.2 million enrolled at the same time last year [4] Premium Costs - Average premium costs for subsidized Obamacare enrollees are expected to rise to $1,904 in 2026 from $888, according to KFF data [3] - KFF's analysis indicated that premium payments are anticipated to more than double on average in 2026, with about 25% of enrollees stating they would forgo health insurance if premiums doubled as expected [10] Effectuation and Disenrollment - The enrollment data includes automatic renewals and plan selections, which may not reflect actual enrollments as some consumers may choose not to pay for their plans [6] - Analysts predict that total enrollment in Obamacare plans will decrease as consumers react to higher premiums, potentially leading to significant disenrollment activity during the 90-day grace period [13]

By Sriparna Roy and Sneha S K Jan 28 (Reuters) - Elevance Health said on Wednesday it expects revenue to fall slightly in 2026 and forecast full-year profit below Wall Street estimates, signaling that elevated medical costs will continue to weigh on insurers. The dour outlook ​sent shares of the health insurer down more than 7% before the bell. “We view 2026 as a year of execution and repositioning ‌across Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and (Obamacare plans),” said CEO Gail Boudreaux, adding the forecas ...

(Bloomberg) — It’s the last day to sign up for Obamacare health insurance plans and lawmakers remain at loggerheads over whether to revive federal subsidies and reverse a dramatic surge in premiums for more than 20 million Americans. The subsidy expiration has become a significant issue in this year’s midterm elections, which are focused squarely on voter concerns about the cost of living. With premiums expected to more than double on average, failure to reach a bipartisan accord puts vulnerable Republica ...

Healthcare Policy & Affordability - The expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies will cause insurance premiums to increase for 22 million Americans [1] - Approximately 24 million people are covered by Affordable Care Act policies (also known as Obamacare) [2] - Enhanced subsidies going away will disproportionately affect self-employed individuals and small business owners who do not have employee coverage, with premiums more than doubling in many cases [2] - Families with ongoing medical needs, such as chronic conditions or expensive prescriptions, are struggling to afford health insurance at current costs [4] Impact on Individuals & Families - One family may have to pay an annual premium of $43,000, which is one-third (33.33%) of their gross income, to maintain health coverage for a family of four [1] - A woman diagnosed with leukemia is facing a $43,000 premium from the only insurer available to her [6] Potential Solutions & Alternatives - Options being considered include health share programs, short-term policies, and a proposed emergency catastrophic plan called "bear care" in Wyoming, but none of these are adequate solutions for some families [7] Political & Public Sentiment - Individuals feel let down by the government due to rising costs and the inability to fix the healthcare system [5] - People are complaining to their representatives about the healthcare situation [9][10]

As president, I'm also taking on the gigantic health insurance companies that have gotten rich on billions of dollars of government subsidies. And I want the money to go directly to the people. I want the money to be paid directly to the people so that they can buy their own health insurance which will give far better benefits at much lower cost.By the way, what I told you about buying the drugs at this massive uh dollar discount, it's like from where it is, that's going to have a huge impact on the cost of ...

This place is disgraceful. Everybody wants the upper hand. Everybody wants the political advantage.They don't actually want to do the damn work. This problem could be solved today. If everybody who says they care about extending this signs the discharge, it could be solved today.And we could say to leadership on both sides, a pox on both your houses, both of you are failing this country. Both of you are failing this institution. >> New York Congressman Mike Lawler, who you just heard from right there, joins ...

Trump Acknowledges Obamacare Premiums Will ‘Skyrocket’—But Says He Doesn’t Want Subsidies Extendedhttps://t.co/d1fP3L2LLz https://t.co/nDHIIT45IT ...

Um, how does this president, how does this Congress, how does Washington handle this disruption. Well, you know, when I watched the president last night, what I thought I was watching in terms of temperament was a a a halftime speech by a coach on a losing football team that had just lost the first half of the game. Uh, he was very frustrated.frustrated by so many things including AI. But if you go through it, um he he really didn't like the fact that he hasn't been able to do anything with the filibuster, ...

You're, of course, one of a handful of Republican members who crossed the aisle to sign a discharge petition that Democrats had put forward to extend Obamacare subsidies. How did we get here, Congressman. And what are you seeing that your party's leaders are not.Well, look, we have two issues to deal with. One is the immediate expiration of these enhanced premium tax credits that were put in place by Democrats during COVID as a temporary measure to address health care affordability during a pandemic. Second ...

Healthcare Policy & Political Strategy - The Democratic party views healthcare, particularly the ACA, as both a national and local issue, using it to engage communities and highlight the impact of Republican policies on healthcare costs [2] - Democrats are focusing on state-level races, including state legislative and secretary of state positions, to address healthcare issues and build power outside of the federal government [16][17] - The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is shifting its focus from solely building federal power to empowering state and local governments to address healthcare challenges [17] - The Democratic party is seeing positive movement in traditionally Republican states due to voter dissatisfaction with the current administration's policies [19][20] Affordable Care Act (ACA) & Healthcare Crisis - Republicans have been attempting to repeal the ACA for 15 years without presenting a viable alternative plan [3] - Millions of Americans are facing double and triple-digit increases in healthcare premiums, leading some to forego insurance [5] - The American Medical Association (AMA) warns that tens of thousands of people may die due to lack of insurance coverage resulting from unaffordable premiums [6] - The failure to extend subsidies for the ACA is seen as a critical issue, with potential life-threatening consequences for those priced out of the market [7][8] - States that refused to expand Medicaid are now seeing the largest growth in ACA enrollment, indicating a need for affordable healthcare options [14] Economic Impact & Political Blame - Unemployment is at a four-year high, and there are 710,000 fewer people in the workforce compared to the previous year [26] - Wage growth is at a four-year low, and nearly 70% of Americans believe the current administration is mishandling the economy [26] - The current administration's policies, including tariffs on agriculture, are negatively impacting various sectors of the US economy [27]