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The ACA MarketplaceS

What We Know about Trump’s $500 ACA Checks and the User Fees Funding Them

This analysis examines the $500 checks that the Trump administration is sending to some Affordable Care Act Marketplace enrollees and the user fees that are paying for them. The checks are going to about 1 million enrollees in the 30 states that rely on the federal HealthCare.gov Marketplace who are not receiving any tax credits this year.

Individual Market Enrollment Declined by 18% Since June 2025

Individual Market Enrollment Fell 18%, Suggesting Continued ACA Marketplace Losses

Enrollment in the individual health insurance market fell by 18%—over 4.6 million people—from 25.2 million in June 2025 to 20.5 million in June 2026. Falling individual market enrollment suggests further decline in ACA Marketplace enrollment this year, since Marketplace enrollees represent the vast majority of individual market coverage. The enrollment decline coincides with the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits and other policy changes that are expected to reduce enrollment.

About the ACA

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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 hear there is a special enrollment opportunity for people with very low income. How does that work?

    FAQs

    Starting August 25, 2025, the special enrollment opportunity that allowed individuals with incomes at or below 150% of the federal poverty level to sign up for Marketplace coverage year-round --simply due to their low income --was eliminated. Individuals at this income level might still qualify for special enrollment under other special enrollment events, such as when they lose coverage due to job loss or lose Medicaid coverage.

  • Supplemental Security Income for People with Disabilities: Implications for Medicaid

    Issue Brief

    This issue brief describes key characteristics of SSI enrollees, explains the SSI eligibility criteria and eligibility determination process, and considers the implications of changes in the SSI program for Medicaid, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn as well as proposals supported by President Biden that Congress might consider.

  • Lacking Dental Coverage, Many People on Medicare Forgo Dental Care, Especially Beneficiaries of Color

    News Release

    Many people enrolled in Medicare go without dental care, especially beneficiaries of color, according to a new KFF analysis of dental coverage and costs for people with Medicare. Almost half of all Medicare beneficiaries (47%) did not have a dental visit within the past year as of 2018, the analysis finds, with rates higher among those who are Black (68%) or Hispanic (61%) compared to White beneficiaries (42%). Rates were also higher among those who…

  • Health Coverage and Care in the South in 2014 and Beyond

    Issue Brief

    This issue brief provides an overview of health coverage and care in the South today, with a focus on demographics, the impact of the ACA coverage expansions, and ongoing efforts to improve the delivery system and safety net in the South.

  • Navigating the Family Glitch Fix: Hurdles for Consumers with Employer-sponsored Coverage

    Issue Brief

    About 5 million people could benefit from the fix to the Affordable Care Act’s “family glitch” that allows workers offered unaffordable family coverage to get subsidies in the marketplace – if they can show they qualify. This brief looks at some of the challenges consumers may face in deciding whether to take advantage of the fix.

  • Do I have to renew Medicaid coverage every year?

    FAQs

    Yes. States must redetermine Medicaid eligibility for most enrollees every 12 months. When your coverage period is ending, you will receive a notice from the state. If your coverage has been automatically renewed, the notice will indicate the new coverage period. If your coverage has not been automatically renewed, the notice will include instructions for completing the renewal process. Note that the renewal process might look different depending on where you live. Click here for a…

  • Who can buy a Catastrophic Plan?

    FAQs

    In general, Catastrophic plans may only be sold to young adults under the age of 30. However, there are certain financial hardship and affordability exemptions for people ages 30 and older, including if there is no qualified health plan offered on or off the Marketplace that would cost less than 8.05% of their income in 2026, or if they are not eligible for premium tax credits or cost-sharing reductions based on their projected annual income.…

  • What is a Catastrophic health plan?

    FAQs

    A “Catastrophic plan” is a qualified health plan offered on or off the Marketplace that covers the “essential health benefits.” While Catastrophic plans have lower premiums than other qualified health plans, they also have the highest level of cost sharing allowable for an ACA-compliant plan. For 2026, the annual deductible for covered services in a Catastrophic plan is $10,600 for an individual or $21,200 for a family. The plan does not have to cover more…

  • I’m a young adult and I need health insurance. What are my coverage options?

    FAQs

    A number of options may be available to you: If your annual income is $21,597 or less in 2026 (138% federal poverty level for a single adult), you may qualify for Medicaid coverage. Not all states have elected to expand Medicaid eligibility to this income level. Check with a navigator or another type of assister using Find Local Help, or check with your state Marketplace to learn more about Medicaid eligibility in your state.  If…

  • I’m low-income and currently enrolled in subsidized Marketplace coverage. I just found out I’m pregnant. Under my state’s rules, I now qualify for Medicaid. Do I have to drop out of the Marketplace cove...

    FAQs

    In nearly all states, pregnancy-related Medicaid provides the same (or similar) benefits as Medicaid for other adults and so is considered minimum essential coverage (MEC). In general, people who are eligible for other MEC are not eligible for advance premium tax credits (APTC). However, a special rule allows people who are already receiving APTC and who become pregnant and eligible for pregnancy-related Medicaid to choose whether to stay in their Marketplace plan with APTC or…