More than a million fewer people have signed up for Affordable Care Act coverage for 2026, according to federal data released Wednesday. The drop comes after the expiration of the enhanced federal premium subsidies caused monthly payments to skyrocket for many enrollees.

Jonathan Gruber, an economist at M.I.T. who helped the Obama administration estimate the costs of various policy options, said the effects of the cutoff have become more pronounced over time. It “was not a big deal at the time, but has become a big deal,” he said.

A majority of NH residents support extending the recently expired Obamacare subsidies, which were the cause of the government shutdown last November.

Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) is proposing an audit of whether insurance companies are using federal tax dollars to fund abortions, a legislative compromise meant to jump-start negotiations over enhanced Obamacare subsidies.

Kate Bivona and her husband don’t know what they would do if either gets seriously sick or injured

There is little likelihood that a fix will come from Washington, where Republican lawmakers say health insurers are to blame.

A policy meant to limit insurance profits under the Affordable Care Act is driving market consolidation and higher health-care costs, researchers say.

House Democrats, including Rep. Glenn Ivey and Rep. Ro Khanna, say 43-day government shutdown elevated healthcare messaging despite failing to secure Obamacare subsidies initially.