Key Takeaways Thursday is the last day in most states to enroll in Affordable Care Act plans for 2026.Enrollees are facing monthly payments that are more than double on average because Congress allowed a pandemic-era health care subsidy to expire.

Fewer Americans are signing up for Affordable Care Act health insurance plans this year. New federal data shows a 3.5% drop in enrollment, with around 800,000 fewer people selecting plans compared to last year.

While Congress debates bringing back Affordable Care Act subsidies, many Americans have already made life-altering decisions to afford health care.

After the ACA tax credit lapsed in December, enrollees are opting for less robust health plans or dropping coverage altogether.

NEW YORK (AP) — Thursday was the final day to select an Affordable Care Act health insurance plan across much of the country, as the expiration of federal subsidies drives up health costs and lawmakers remain locked in a debate over how to address the issue.

By Amina Niasse and Richard Cowan NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Millions of Americans are facing higher healthcare costs in 2026 as open enrollment for most federally subsidized Obamacare plans closes on Thursday and Congress remains divided on whether and how it should reinstate generous COVID-era tax credits.

The most recent snapshot, though incomplete, indicates a stabler marketplace and less coverage loss than many experts and insurers feared.

An early report shows that hundreds of thousands of Floridians dropped Obamacare as subsidies expired with the dawn of 2026.