Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Enrollments in Affordable Care Act health insurance plans for individuals are down by 1.2 million after 23 million bought coverage during the open enrollment period that ended on Jan. 15.
The number of enrollees is down from the 24.2 million who signed up during the open enrollment period in late 2024 and early 2025, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
The drop in ACA enrollments is attributed to the end of temporary subsidies that expired on Jan. 1, but lawmakers are debating a potential extension after rates rose significantly, including some that doubled and tripled after the expiration of a temporary subsidy.
The subsidy expired at the end of 2025 and was the focal point of the record 43-day federal government shutdown that started on Oct. 1, which is when the 2026 fiscal year started.
Federal lawmakers have debated a measure to extend the subsidies and likely reopen the now-closed enrollment period, which would spur more people to sign up and could lead to numbers that exceed last year's total signups.
