ACA exchange enrollment has dropped by nearly 23% in Alabama since Congressional Republicans allowed the enhanced federal subsidies to expire at the end of last year.
Initial signups during Open Enrollment were already down 4.6% vs. OEP 2025...buteffectuated enrollment as of January 2026 was down over 9% year over year...increasing to a 22.5% drop as of February.
That's over 94,000 Alabamans who already lost coverage in just the first two months of the year...a number which has likely continued to climb since then.
Health insurers must make an application to the Department of Financial Services to evaluate their proposed rate changes. The Department reviews the rate applications along with the insurer’s underlying calculations to make sure that rate increases are justified and not excessive. During review, DFS may request more information from the insurer and consider comments from policyholders or the public. Rate applications and all documents relating to an application can be found here:
Individual and Small Group Medical Premium Rates
Beginning with rate application filings submitted in 2023 for benefit year 2024, rate information will be contained in one place for all insurers, separated by Market Segment.
Thanks to New Mexico backfilling 100% of ALL lost federal tax credits for EVERY ACA exchange enrollee in the state who was eligible for subsidies last year, their average monthly enrollment total is actually higher than it was in 2025 in spite of Congressional Republicans allowing the enhanced federal subsidies to expire at the end of 2025. Initial signups during Open Enrollment were actually up a whopping 18% vs. OEP 2025.
Even so, effectuated enrollment has still gradually declined over the course of the year so far...from 15% higher year over year in January to just 0.5% higher as of July...and this month it actually slipped slightly below the August 2025 tally (New Mexico is one of a handful of states which provide timely, monthly effectuated enrollment data reports).
CONNECTICUT INSURANCE DEPARTMENT RELEASES HEALTH INSURANCE RATE REQUEST FILINGS FOR 2027
The Connecticut Insurance Department (CID) has received rate filings from four health insurers for plans to be offered in the individual and small group markets, both on and off the state-sponsored exchange, Access Health CT . As part of CID’s statutory responsibilities, the CID will conduct a thorough and careful review of each filing to ensure compliance with Connecticut insurance laws and regulations.
The CID’s review process will examine each submission in detail, requiring insurers to provide justifications and supporting evidence for their requested rates. All filings are available on the CID’s website .
The first thing that's important to understand about the Indiana insurance market is that there are two carriers leaving the individual (ACA) market, and one possibly (?) leaving the small group market next year.
In accordance with the provisions of 211 CMR 66.08(3)(e), and in order to ensure that insurance rates are fair to consumers, the Division of Insurance reviews and seeks public comment on the rates requested by health insurance carriers.
The following tables depict the proposed overall weighted average premium increase and the key assumptions behind premium development for the merged (individual and small employer) market filed by insurance carriers as part of the Massachusetts Division of Insurance rate review process (for rates effective in 2027). This information is subject to change as the rate review process continues.
The Health Care Access Bureau within the Massachusetts Division of Insurance is currently reviewing these assumptions. This review process will culminate in a final decision in August 2026.
Merged Market Summary for Proposed Rates Effective for 2027
Yesterday I wrote about the standard monthly Medicaid/CHIP enrollment report published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). I noted that as of April 2026, total combined Medicaid & CHIP enrollment had fallen by another 398,000 people, to around 73.9 million Americans.
I also noted that this figure is nearly 5.1 million lower than it was as of January 2025...the same month that Donald Trump returned to the White House and Republicans took over all three branches of the federal government.
Medicare Advantage (technically "Medicare Part C" & originally called "Medicare+Choice") is a type of health plan in the United States offered by private companies as part of the original Social Security Act of 1965 that created Medicare. It permits a private insurance option that wraps around traditional Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans attempt to fill some coverage gaps and offer alternative coverage options.
Under Part C, Medicare pays a plan operator a fixed payment for each enrollee. The operator then pays for their medical expenses. Traditional Medicare directly compensates providers on a fee-for-service basis. Plans are offered by integrated health delivery systems, labor unions, non profit charities, and health insurance companies, which may limit enrollment to specific groups of people (such as union members).
