The expiration of enhanced tax credits for the purchase of health insurance on Affordable Care Act exchanges is expected to put the cost of such plans beyond the reach of approximately 4.8 million people in 2026 and result in a significant increase in uninsured Americans.
Just two weeks into the new year, the number of people who have purchased health exchange policies is reportedly 800,000 fewer than last year at this time.
For a closer look at the anticipated impact of the loss of Affordable Care Act premium subsidies, see the following articles:
- NBC News – “ACA sign-ups fall as premiums push people off plans”
- KFF Health News – “Millions of Americans Are Expected To Drop Their Affordable Care Act Plans. They’re Looking for a Plan B”
- MarketWatch – “At least 800,000 Americans are opting out of Obamacare as healthcare costs soar”
- NPR – “Affordable Care Act subsidies have expired. What that means for millions of Americans”
- PBS – “Health subsidies expire, launching millions of Americans into 2026 with steep insurance hikes”
- The Hill – “Early ACA numbers show drastic drop in enrollment”
The loss of insurance coverage by so many people will pose a special challenge for community safety-net hospitals because they are typically located in and serve communities with larger numbers of low-income patients than the typical American hospital. Those who no longer can afford health insurance will still get sick and still get injured, and when they do, they unquestionably will continue to turn to their local community safety-net hospitals for care, and in the process, they will increase the amount of under-compensated and uncompensated care those hospitals provide.
