Before I begin, it's important to note that ACA exchange enrollment has plummeted in Louisiana since Congressional Republicans allowed the enhanced federal subsidies to expire at the end of last year.
Initial signups during the 2026 Open Enrollment Period were actually up slightly vs. OEP 2025...but actual effectuated enrollment was 2.3% lower as of January...and then fell off a cliff in February, with enrollment dropping a stunning 26% vs. a year earlier. That's over 69,000 Louisianans who were priced out of coverage in just the first two months of the year:
Here's what this looks like visually, with both 2025 and 2019 (the last pre-COVID year, which didn't include the enhanced subsidies) included for comparison:
Initial signups during Open Enrollment were only down about 2% vs. 2025..but effectuated enrollment began to drop immediately and has continued to drop every month since then.
As of June 2026, effectuated enrollment is down 8.4% vs. a year earlier, and is down 7.7% on average for the year so far. That's around 22,000 fewer Coloradans with ACA exchange coverage so far this year:
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%.”
Connect for Health Colorado, the state's ACA exchange, has published effectuated enrollment data for January, February and March 2026, so it's time to dig in and see what this might say about national trends.
Unfortunately, it doesn't provide much demographic data (metal levels, income levels, etc), but it does at least provide the number of effectuated enrollees as well as new and terminated enrollments.
Below is what it looks like compared to the same months in prior years. I'm disregarding the COVID years (2020 - 2023) but am including 2016 - 2019 (none of which included the enhanced federal tax credits) as well as 2024 & 2025.
Officially, Qualified Health Plan (QHP) selections during Open Enrollment were only 1.9% lower than they were in 2025. However, as I expected and have warned about repeatedly, the year over year drop in effectuated enrollment was double that in January (3.8%), and the gap grew in both February and March. For the first quarter of 2026, effectuated enrollment in Colorado is down 5.3% vs Q1 2025.
Denver, Colo. – After five consecutive years of record growth, enrollment in health coverage through the state’s official health insurance marketplace for plan year 2026 dipped 2%, Connect for Health Colorado announced today.
Despite rising costs due to less federal financial assistance, 277,228 Coloradans enrolled in health insurance, with 69% of customers receiving financial help to lower the cost of their monthly premiums.
Technically, QHP selections ended up down 1.9% from last year's total of 282,481.
Denver, Colo.– Enrollment for health coverage beginning Jan. 1 is consistent with this time last year, Connect for Health Colorado announced today. 256,422 residents have enrolled in a health insurance plan through the state’s official health insurance marketplace. That is approximately 0.14% higher than the number of people who enrolled for Jan. 1 coverage last year.
Connect for Health Colorado is the only place where Coloradans can get financial help to purchase health insurance, and an estimated 65% of customers will qualify for financial help for plan year 2026. More than half – 58% – of customers who currently receive financial assistance will have at least one 2026 plan option with an estimated net premium under $10 per month.
Denver, Colo. – The Dec. 15 deadline to enroll in health insurance for Jan. 1 is fast approaching, and Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s official health insurance marketplace, is encouraging people to shop and start their applications today to avoid a lapse in coverage.
“Dec. 15 is an important deadline; it’s the final day for Coloradans to enroll in health coverage that starts Jan. 1, and our team is ready to help customers stay covered,” said Kevin Patterson, chief executive officer of Connect for Health Colorado. “Staying covered is one of the most important things people can do for their physical and financial well-being. Gaps in coverage can leave Coloradans vulnerable to unexpected medical costs – but we’re here to help. We want to be sure people have the information and assistance they need to choose a plan that works for them.”
On Get Covered Colorado Day, Connect for Health Colorado and state leaders urge customers to compare options and maintain health coverage in 2026.
Denver, Colo.– Today is Get Covered Colorado Day, a day of action designed to encourage as many Coloradans as possible to enroll in 2026 health insurance during Connect for Health Colorado's annual open enrollment period.
“Our message today is simple: we’re here to help every Coloradan get covered,” said Kevin Patterson, chief executive officer of Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s official health insurance marketplace. “Even with premium increases and the possible expiration of federal enhanced Premium Tax Credits, Coloradans are finding plans that fit their needs and their budgets – and they’re not doing it alone. Our experts are ready to guide customers every step of the way. We want Coloradans to know there’s no better time than now to shop, compare options and take advantage of the support we have available.”
IMPORTANT:Premium Alignment is NOT a substitute for making the enhanced ACA tax credits permanent. It does little to help the lowest-income folks who are still better off with Silver plans thanks to robust CSR assistance, and the benefits of it will be mediocre for those over 400% FPL if the enhanced tax credits expire.
Even for those it benefits the most (primarily those who earn between 200 - 400% FPL), it's a complement to the upgraded subsidies, not a replacement for them.
HOWEVER, it's still hugely helpful to those who know how to take advantage of it, and particularly in the states newly implementing it, it should relieve a huge portion of the pain being caused by the enhanced APTC expiring next month.
