3 Million Fewer Americans Enrolled in ACA Plans, Federal Data Shows
TL/DR –
About 3 million fewer people in the US had Affordable Care Act health insurance plans in February 2022 compared to the same time last year, according to new federal data. The Department of Health and Human Services attributes this 13% drop in enrollment to a crackdown on fraudulent or “phantom” enrollment, but health analysts suggest it was more likely due to the expiration of federal subsidies, which led to a surge in plan costs. The nonprofit KFF predicts the number of people in the government healthcare program could continue to decline throughout the year, potentially reaching a low of about 17.5 million.
Decrease in Affordable Care Act Insurance Enrollments in the United States
The United States has seen 3 million fewer enrollments in Affordable Care Act (ACA) healthcare plans in February compared to the same period last year, as per recent federal data.
Investigating the Drop in ACA Enrollments
A report by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services states that the 13% drop in enrollments from 22.1 million in 2025 to 19.2 million this year could be attributed to a crackdown on fraudulent enrollments. However, health analysts suggest that the expiration of federal subsidies on January 1, resulting in a surge in plan costs, is more likely the cause of the decline.
Impact of ACA Premium Increase on Enrollment
Cynthia Cox, VP and director of the ACA program at KFF, a healthcare research nonprofit, stated, “We know that people lost their health insurance coverage… This coverage loss happened at the same time millions of people faced double or even triple digit increases in their premium payments.”
First Official Look at the Impact of Nonpayment on ACA Enrollment
New data shows how the inability to pay first bills this year affected total enrollment. A federal estimate in January revealed that about 800,000 fewer people had signed up for ACA plans compared to last year, marking the first drop in enrollment in the past four years.
Future of ACA Enrollments
Cox predicts that the number of people in the government healthcare program will continue to decline throughout the year, possibly to a low of about 17.5 million. Recently, ACA plans have become a popular choice for gig workers, farmers, ranchers, hairstylists and others without health coverage through an employer.
ACA Subsidies and the Impact on Health Cost
The expiration of ACA subsidies this year was a hot topic in Congress last fall, with both Democrats and Republicans demanding their renewal. With the November elections approaching, voters have expressed concerns about the sharp increases in health costs across ACA and other health insurance programs.
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