ACA subsidies expiring leaves 1.4 million fewer insured compared to 2025, as CMS data shows enrollment declines in Florida and other Southern states.

President Donald Trump unveiled a multipart proposal on Thursday aimed at lowering prescription drug prices and reducing health insurance premiums, as well as increasing pricing transparency. He also vowed to hold big insurance companies accountable.

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.

Going into the 2025-26 open enrollment period for people shopping for health insurance through GetCoveredNJ, the outlook was grim. Insurance regulators said the average premium would rise by 16%. And with Congress in December refusing to renew the money needed for tax credits that helped middle-income New Jerseyans dramatically reduce their premiums during the pandemic,

Musicians, tattoo artists and other Nashvillians among Tennesseans struggling to afford health insurance premiums as Congress debates extension.

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

These high costs are taking a huge bite out of family budgets. Median household income in the U.S. was $83,730 in 2024, per the Census Bureau, meaning health insurance coverage for a family could represent an enormous chunk of pre-tax income for the household.

It is unclear whether Congress will strike a deal to bring back tax credits that have helped make health insurance more affordable.