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The ACA MarketplaceS

How Has Marketplace Enrollment Changed Across States in 2026?

Following several years of rapid enrollment growth in the ACA Marketplaces that corresponded with temporary enhanced premium tax credits, enrollment fell for the first time in seven years in 2026, when those tax credits expired. Every state except for New Mexico saw a drop in Marketplace enrollment from 2025 to 2026. State-based Marketplaces that run their own enrollment platforms, including those that partially offset the enhanced tax credits, generally saw lower drops in enrollment.

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Did the Affordable Care Act Make Health Care More Affordable?

The expiration of the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits at the start of 2026, combined with rising insurer premiums, put a spotlight on health care affordability that extends beyond Marketplace enrollees. KFF’s Cynthia Cox examines the ACA’s record and the broader underlying question it raises: what’s a fair price for Americans people to pay for health care?

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  • I received a Form 1095-C in the mail. What’s that?

    FAQs

    Form 1095-C will indicate your name and the name of your employer, the months when you were eligible for coverage, and the cost to you of the cheapest monthly premium you could have enrolled in under your employer’s health plan. If you worked for a large employer that did not offer its full-time employees health coverage, Form 1095-C will also indicate that. Keep this form with your tax records. You may need this form if…

  • I’m covered under my parents’ plan and just had a baby. Will my parents’ plan cover my baby after he’s born?

    FAQs

    Your parents' plan, regardless of the source, is generally not required to cover your child as a dependent. Depending on your income, your child may be eligible for coverage under the Medicaid/CHIP program in your state. Or you can buy a family plan through the Marketplace and, depending on your income and whether health insurance is available from your own employer, you may be eligible for a premium tax credit and cost-sharing subsidy to reduce…

  • I am covered by Medicaid, but I’m wondering if I can drop my Medicaid and purchase one of the health plans offered through the Marketplace instead?

    FAQs

    While you are allowed to purchase Marketplace coverage, if you are currently covered by Medicaid or have been told you are eligible for Medicaid, you are not eligible for premium tax credits that make Marketplace coverage more affordable for people with lower incomes. Without the Marketplace tax credits, the cost of a Marketplace plan will likely be unaffordable. Medicaid offers comprehensive coverage with no or low premiums and limited out-of-pocket costs.

  • Do Marketplace plans cover dental care?

    FAQs

    It depends on your age. Dental coverage for children ages 18 and under is an "essential health benefit," meaning it must be available to any children you have, either as part of a health plan or through a separate dental plan, though you are not required to buy it. Dental coverage for adults is not considered an essential health benefit, so Marketplace plans don’t have to offer it.

  • What health plans are offered through the Marketplace?

    FAQs

    All health plans offered through the Marketplace must meet the requirements of “qualified health plans.” This means they will cover essential health benefits, limit the amount of cost sharing (such as deductibles and co-pays) for covered benefits, cover certain preventive services at no cost to consumers, and satisfy all other consumer protections required under the Affordable Care Act. Health plans vary in the benefits they cover and the level of cost sharing required. Plans are…

  • I lost my job and my health coverage. Can I buy a Marketplace plan now, or do I have to wait for the next Open Enrollment?

    FAQs

    You can apply now. HealthCare.gov and all state Marketplaces allow a special enrollment opportunity when people lose other coverage, including job-based coverage. In general, you have 60 days following the loss of other job-based coverage to apply for a special enrollment opportunity through the Marketplace. If you have advance notice of your coverage loss, you can apply for the special enrollment opportunity up to 60 days in advance. If your state uses the federally facilitated Marketplace…

  • When can I enroll in Marketplace health plan coverage?

    FAQs

    This FAQ was updated January 14, 2026, to reflect newly extended Open Enrollment deadlines in Connecticut, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. In general, you can only enroll in Marketplace health plan coverage during the annual Open Enrollment period. For 2026 coverage, the Open Enrollment period in most states begins November 1, 2025, and closes at the end of the day on January 15, 2026. The following states have different Open Enrollment end dates: Idaho: December 15 Massachusetts:…