2027 Open Enrollment

Back in July, the Virginia ACA exchange (the rather unimaginatively named "Virginia's Insurance Marketplace") announced that they were planning on becoming the latest state to offer their own supplemental insurance premium subsidies for ACA enrollees:

About 200,000 Virginians will be eligible to tap into new state funding meant to offset costs for insurance through the state’s Affordable Care Act exchange, starting in November.

This means that participants could save about 70% on their monthly premium, after state lawmakers and Gov. Abigail Spanberger approved $150 million dollars for it in the state budget late last month.

The move comes after federal funding shifts triggered by Congress’ failure to renew expiring ACA subsidies. Thousands of Virginians have dropped their coverage so far this year as premiums have shot up.

Virginia’s Health Benefit Exchange estimates that about 100,000 Virginians have lost their health coverage this year as a result of higher premiums, according to a new press release.

via Access Health CT:

Connecticut residents can begin enrolling October 23

Access Health CT (AHCT), Connecticut’s official health insurance marketplace, today announced the 2027 Open Enrollment Period will run from Oct. 23 through Jan. 15. Open enrollment is the time for Connecticut residents to shop, compare, and enroll in or renew their health and dental insurance. 

The date that customers enroll determines when coverage starts.If customers enroll on or before Dec. 15, 2026, coverage will start Jan. 1, 2027. If they enroll between Dec. 16, 2026 and Jan. 15, 2027, coverage will begin Feb. 1, 2027.

In recent years, open enrollment for AHCT has run from Nov. 1 through Jan. 15. New federal changes had required marketplaces to limit their Open Enrollment Periods to nine weeks and end by Dec. 31 but this is now subject to a lawsuit challenging the change. 

via Connect for Health Colorado:

Preparing Early for Open Enrollment

Estimate & Explore is now available, giving Coloradans more time to review their health coverage options before Open Enrollment begins.

Dear Friends and Partners,

Every year, Open Enrollment gives Coloradans an opportunity to evaluate their health coverage and make decisions about the year ahead. For some people, that process is straightforward. For others, it can feel overwhelming.

Health coverage decisions often involve balancing premiums, deductibles, provider networks, prescription drug coverage, and other factors that affect both a household budget and access to care. Those decisions become even more important when costs are rising and families are taking a closer look at their finances.

Originally posted 6/05/26

The past couple of weeks have been pretty brutal for the Oregon health insurance market.

On May 21st, Providence Health Plan announced that they were shutting down pretty much their entire insurance division across Oregon (which also impacts some people in Washington and California):

Providence Health & Services plans to exit most of its Oregon health insurance business next year, citing rising costs, tougher regulation and intensifying competition from national insurers — a move that will force hundreds of thousands of Oregonians to find new coverage.

...Providence Health Plan, based in Portland, is Oregon’s third-largest health insurer, covering more than 421,000 Oregonians. It also covers over 13,000 members in Washington and 4,800 in California.

Last September, just ahead of the 2026 ACA Open Enrollment Period, the Colorado legislature passed emergency legislation to generate funding to backfill around 40% of the premium subsidies which were lost when Congressional Republicans refused to extend the enhanced federal tax credits:

DENVER - Colorado Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway released the following statement on Governor Polis signing HB 25B-1006 into law, legislation that provides funding to the individual healthcare market to reduce catastrophic premium increases:

“I’m grateful Colorado lawmakers heeded our call about catastrophic price increases for the individual healthcare market and passed a temporary fix this special session. This stopgap measure will provide crucial funding to reduce the rise in premium costs for working families. But without Congress stepping up to extend enhanced premium tax credits, tens of thousands of hardworking Coloradans will lose their healthcare, and those who remain enrolled can expect to see average net rate increases of more than 100%, and for many, almost 200%.”

Just five days ago, Providence Health Plan of Oregon announced that they're shutting down pretty much their entire health insurance provider division next year:

...Providence will stop offering most plans through Providence Health Plan, including individual, family and employer coverage, as it seeks to strengthen its financial footing and refocus on delivering care rather than operating an insurance arm.

...Providence Health Plan, based in Portland, is Oregon’s third-largest health insurer, covering more than 421,000 Oregonians. It also covers over 13,000 members in Washington and 4,800 in California. 

Today, this was followed by another blow to the Beaver State's health insurance market. Via Nick Budnick of The Lund Report:

And the hits just keep on coming: Via The Oregonian:

Providence to end most health insurance plans, forcing hundreds of thousands in Oregon to switch

Providence Health & Services plans to exit most of its Oregon health insurance business next year, citing rising costs, tougher regulation and intensifying competition from national insurers — a move that will force hundreds of thousands of Oregonians to find new coverage.

Leaders of the Renton, Washington-based health system announced the decision Wednesday, saying Providence will stop offering most plans through Providence Health Plan, including individual, family and employer coverage, as it seeks to strengthen its financial footing and refocus on delivering care rather than operating an insurance arm.

via Bruce Japsen of Forbes:

The Cigna Group disclosed plans to exit the individual health insurance business under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, leaving about 369,000 health plan members in 11 states looking for new coverage in 2027.

The decision, disclosed Thursday, a day when Cigna reported $1.7 billion in first quarter net income, comes as more Americans can no longer afford Obamacare after the Republican-led Congress and the Trump administration failed to renew enhanced subsidies.

Already, enrollment in the individual plans Cigna sells dropped 17% to 369,000 in the first quarter compared to 446,000 in the first quarter of last year, the company said in its first quarter earnings report. Enrollment in Cigna’s individual coverage was flat when compared to the end of last year despite adding 20 new counties to the more than 370 counties across 11 states where the company has sold Obamacare.

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