Overview
- Premiums jumped for many marketplace enrollees after the December 31 expiration of enhanced subsidies, including a Colorado counselor whose monthly bill rose from $265 to $903.
- Covered California says about 160,000 residents who earn above 400% of the federal poverty level lost eligibility for aid when the expanded subsidies ended.
- Average Covered California premiums rose 10.3% this year because of rising medical costs, with some plans increasing far more in specific cases.
- Faced with higher bills, people are cutting back on doctor visits, switching to cheaper plans, buying medications through discount programs, or going uninsured despite state penalties of at least $900 per adult.
- Marketplace enrollment fell by about 1.4 million in January from early‑2025 levels, and Covered California’s director warns more could drop coverage as higher invoices arrive even though the state’s overall enrollment has so far held steady.