Washington, D.C. – New data from the State Marketplace Network shows a growing affordability crisis as Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment declines across multiple state-based ACA marketplaces, underscoring the growing impact of higher health care costs on families already struggling with everyday expenses like groceries, gas, and utilities. After Republicans slashed $1 trillion from Medicaid and ripped away the ACA tax credits to fund tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations, families are being forced off their health care coverage as premium costs skyrocket.
The report finds that over 900,000 people have disenrolled since January 1, adding to the 1.3 million Americans who have been forced to drop ACA coverage through the national Marketplace during the Open Enrollment period. And it’s going to get worse as the Trump-GOP premium hikes become unbearable for more and more families. In response, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement:
“The Republican affordability crisis is hitting hard-working families in every corner of the country. While billionaires are enjoying another tax break, working people are being forced to make impossible choices, and many are dropping the coverage they depend on. Parents, seniors, and hard-working people are being squeezed from every direction, and health care is becoming one more bill they can’t afford. As these premium hikes continue to take hold, even more families will be forced to drop coverage in the months ahead.”
Key Points
- Around 1.3 million Americans dropped ACA coverage through the national Marketplace (healthcare.gov) during the 2026 Open Enrollment period running from November 2025 to January 2026. The Trump administration’s latest report claimed that state-based ACA marketplace (SBM) enrollment “held somewhat steady” during Open Enrollment — but new data from the State Marketplace Network shows that SBM enrollment is rapidly declining as well.
- SBMs have seen a 47% increase in the number of enrollees not receiving health care tax credits after Trump and Republicans ripped them away last July.
- 24% more enrollees have dropped ACA coverage through SBMs in the first three months of 2026 compared to the same period last year.
- SBMs documented over 900,000 disenrollments during the first three months of 2026.
- Most SBMs reported an increased proportion of enrollees switching to plans that do not offer comprehensive health care coverage and have higher deductibles ranging from $3,424 to $9,904 per person.
- Just four out of 17 SBMs — less than 25% — have maintained enrollment gains in 2026.
Recent National Coverage
Arizona
- Around 65,000 Arizonans canceled their 2026 ACA coverage. [KJZZ]
Georgia
- More than half a million Georgians have canceled their 2026 ACA coverage, a 37% drop. [Georgia Recorder]
New Jersey
- Nearly 69,000 New Jerseyans have dropped their 2026 ACA coverage, a 14% decline. [New Jersey Monitor]
Pennsylvania
- Roughly 45,000 Pennsylvanians dropped their 2026 ACA coverage between Jan. 31 and Apr. 9. [Axios Philadelphia]
Virginia
- About 33,000 people have dropped their 2026 ACA coverage. [Virginia Monitor]