Obamacare enrollment falls by 1.4 million after subsidy lapse

About 1.4 million fewer people have enrolled in Affordable Care Act plans this year, federal government numbers published Monday show: 22.8 million people had coverage starting Jan. 1, down from 24.2 million by mid-January last year. The decline — about 6 percent — follows the expiration of enhanced premium subsidies and soaring premiums.

The initial figures include automatic renewals, and the report says more people may drop coverage once they receive their first bill reflecting higher prices. Lawmakers are debating ways to soften the financial blow, but have not coalesced around a solution. The House passed legislation to extend the extra subsidies, the Senate has considered and rejected an identical measure, and a bipartisan group of senators is discussing a compromise whose details and prospects remain unclear.

The White House floated a proposal in November and the president recently suggested flexibility on related abortion restrictions, but he said Sunday while traveling on Air Force One that he might veto the bill. The expiration of the additional subsidies has doubled the amount people will have to pay for insurance, on average.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates two million more Americans could become uninsured this year, though other analysts have projected larger losses. Consumers can continue to enroll through Thursday for coverage effective Feb.

Key Topics

Health, Affordable Care Act, Premium Subsidies, Open Enrollment, Congressional Budget Office, President Trump