The 2026 Enrollment Season
The 2026 Open Enrollment Season has come to an end, though State-based Marketplaces (SBMs) remain open year-round, ready to serve consumers in the event they encounter a major life change and find themselves in need of coverage — like job loss, a geographic move, or a change in household size (ex. marriage, birth, adoption, death, etc.).
SBMs are closely tracking enrollment trends amid significant changes hitting their markets this year, including the expiration of federal enhanced premium tax credits, along with changes enacted under recent federal law.
Our latest report provides early insights of trends this year:
- Disenrollments are accelerating across the majority of SBMs — up 24 percent compared to March 2025.
- Enrollment trends vary widely across states, a result of multiple factors, including actions by some states to mitigate expected losses. Enrollment declines are most common among older adults (aged 55 and older).
- Higher disenrollments, fewer new enrollments, and shifts into lower metal- level plans are likely driven by increased premium costs, exacerbated by expiration of the federal enhanced premium tax credits.
These findings build on a January analysis that first identified these trends. For more information from individual SBMs about their enrollment seasons, see their resources linked below.
