California's Affordable Care Act Marketplace Sees Dramatic Drop in Enrollment Amidst Expired Subsidy. The number of people enrolling in Obamacare has plummeted in California after a crucial subsidy expired, leaving many without access to affordable healthcare.
According to data released by Covered California, the state's health insurance marketplace, enrollment for 2026 has declined by 31% compared to last year. This sharp drop has raised concerns among health experts and advocates who fear that more people will struggle to afford healthcare plans as they face rising premiums.
The subsidy in question provided financial assistance to millions of Americans, including those in California, allowing them to purchase affordable health insurance. However, Republicans in Congress declined to extend the policy at the end of last year, citing budget concerns. The move was seen as a major blow to Democrats who had pushed for its extension during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman acknowledged that the loss of the subsidy has left many Californians struggling to afford healthcare plans. "If you're on the fence — get off the fence," said Rose Wilkerson, a self-employed healthcare worker who benefits from the program. "The cost has doubled for me, and I don't know how I'll pay it."
State officials have warned that middle-income households and adults in their 50s or 60s will be disproportionately affected by the rising premiums. The average premium for a Covered California plan has doubled to $365, up from $186 last year.
Health advocates are now calling on politicians in Washington to revive the enhanced subsidies. If an agreement is reached, Covered California would extend its enrollment period or reopen it, allowing more patients to access financial assistance.
In the meantime, health navigators are helping customers weigh their options if they're priced out of the marketplace. One popular option among those who can't afford even the lowest-level plans is paying for a bronze plan. More than a third of new customers are enrolling in these plans, compared to one-fifth last year.
The looming threat of losing healthcare coverage has left many Californians with difficult choices between medical care, rent, and putting food on the table. As health experts warn that the situation will only worsen without the subsidies, advocates are urging politicians to take action before it's too late.
According to data released by Covered California, the state's health insurance marketplace, enrollment for 2026 has declined by 31% compared to last year. This sharp drop has raised concerns among health experts and advocates who fear that more people will struggle to afford healthcare plans as they face rising premiums.
The subsidy in question provided financial assistance to millions of Americans, including those in California, allowing them to purchase affordable health insurance. However, Republicans in Congress declined to extend the policy at the end of last year, citing budget concerns. The move was seen as a major blow to Democrats who had pushed for its extension during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman acknowledged that the loss of the subsidy has left many Californians struggling to afford healthcare plans. "If you're on the fence — get off the fence," said Rose Wilkerson, a self-employed healthcare worker who benefits from the program. "The cost has doubled for me, and I don't know how I'll pay it."
State officials have warned that middle-income households and adults in their 50s or 60s will be disproportionately affected by the rising premiums. The average premium for a Covered California plan has doubled to $365, up from $186 last year.
Health advocates are now calling on politicians in Washington to revive the enhanced subsidies. If an agreement is reached, Covered California would extend its enrollment period or reopen it, allowing more patients to access financial assistance.
In the meantime, health navigators are helping customers weigh their options if they're priced out of the marketplace. One popular option among those who can't afford even the lowest-level plans is paying for a bronze plan. More than a third of new customers are enrolling in these plans, compared to one-fifth last year.
The looming threat of losing healthcare coverage has left many Californians with difficult choices between medical care, rent, and putting food on the table. As health experts warn that the situation will only worsen without the subsidies, advocates are urging politicians to take action before it's too late.
this is crazy, a 31% drop in enrollment already? what's gonna happen when more people can't afford healthcare plans? 
i'm so worried about those self-employed ppl like rose wilkerson, her story is heartbreaking - doubled costs & no idea how she'll pay it. 
middle-income households & adults 50s/60s are gonna be hit hard too. 
we need to revive the enhanced subsidies ASAP! 
covered california's gotta help more ppl get access to affordable healthcare. this is a disaster waiting to happen if politicians don't act soon... 
. Something needs to be done ASAP! 
what's gonna happen 2 all these ppl who r losing their health insurance? 
. It's like, what do you do when medical care is basically unaffordable? Do you put food on the table or skip a doctor's visit because you can't pay for it? 
. We need some kind of solution ASAP, or we're gonna see a lot more people struggling with healthcare access 
I mean, who loses their health insurance because some people in Congress can't agree? 
it's not like they're making decisions that affect your life or anything... anyway, the average premium has doubled and people are having to choose between paying for medical care and putting food on the table. Like, what even is the point of having a decent healthcare system if you can just lose it because of politics? 
it's so frustrating... covered california is supposed to be all about helping people afford health insurance, but now they're struggling too 
So this is what happens when you let politics get in the way of people's healthcare 
. A 31% drop in enrollment? That's not a drop, that's a plunge into the depths of affordable healthcare despair 
. And to make matters worse, middle-income households are going to be the hardest hit 
. And the fact that politicians are just sitting around waiting for someone else to fix this? 
I feel bad for those middle-income households and adults in their 50s or 60s who are getting hit hard. They're like, "How am I supposed to afford healthcare when I'm barely scraping by?" 
This is why we need those enhanced subsidies back, stat! 
It's not just the cost that's the problem, it's the choice between paying for meds or paying bills on time. 
. It's like they're being priced out of a basic human right 
. Now we're seeing the effects, and it's devastating 
.
. It's like we're being forced to choose between medical care and basic human needs 
. The people who are struggling with healthcare shouldn't have to navigate the system on their own; we need real solutions 
.
. If we don't get an extension of the subsidy or some other solution, it's going to be a disaster for people in California 
I'm freaking out about this 
. The fact that middle-income households and adults in their 50s/60s are the ones hit hardest just makes it worse 
it's not just my sister, lots of other people are struggling too. the cost of living is already super high and healthcare shouldn't be another thing to worry about 
it's like they're being priced out of the market entirely 
this is all about who has access to affordable healthcare and it's not looking good right now 
what's next? will ppl have to choose between medical care and paying rent? 
I don't know how they'll pay for it either, that's so expensive