The Big Debate Over Dropping Exchange Enrollment
The Trump administration recently went on the offensive, arguing a drop in Exchange enrollment should be credited to its ongoing efforts to crack down on improper and fraudulent enrollment. A recent administration report says 5.6 million people were fraudulently enrolled in Exchange plans in 2025, and that it removed 2.9 million through various initiatives.
But critics argue the drop in enrollment is tied to rising premium costs, including the expiration of enhanced premium subsidies passed and extended during the COVID years. They argue more will drop throughout 2026 due to affordability issues.
The truth is likely somewhere in the middle. For sure, rising premiums have led many to disenroll. But the Trump administration is likely also right. There is little question in my mind that zero premiums led many to be fraudulently enrolled.
#exchanges #enrollment
https://kffhealthnews.org/medicaid/aca-fraud-crackdown-skyrocketing-prices-enrollment-decline/
2027 Exchange Premium Increases
Healthcare policy group Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker has updated its projections for premium hikes in 2027 in the Exchanges. For 2027, across 276 insurers from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, KFF projects a median proposed premium increase of 15%. It says this is the second consecutive year of double-digit premium hikes. The median nationwide proposed rate change was 18% for 2026, and the median finalized rate change was 20%.
#exchanges #coverage
— Marc S. Ryan
