Overview
- Idaho kicked off open enrollment, with households receiving notices of sharp 2026 increases if enhanced subsidies lapse, including one couple warned their monthly premium would jump from $51 to $2,232.
- Covered California has delayed open-enrollment letters and prepared two versions as it projects a 97% average increase for affected enrollees and up to 400,000 people leaving the exchange without an extension.
- Colorado’s insurance commissioner cautioned that Silver-plan costs could rise about 170% and that 75,000 to 100,000 residents may lose access to care, prompting a delay in rate notices until later this month.
- Republican leaders say the government must reopen before subsidy talks, as Vice President Vance highlights fraud concerns tied to $0-premium plans; CMS logged over 180,000 complaints about unauthorized enrollments and 90,000 about plan switching.
- Insurers are pricing 2026 plans for a possible end to the enhanced credits, with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois citing the expected expiration, while KFF and marketplaces warn average out-of-pocket premiums would more than double and coverage could drop for millions.