The article reports that about 3 million fewer people enrolled in ACA health insurance plans in February 2026 than in February 2025, a 13% drop from 22.1 million to 19.2 million, according to new federal data.

No state-by-state breakdown is provided in the excerpt, but the source indicates broader national-level findings.

The expiration of ACA subsidies was a central political issue in last year’s Congressional fights, with affordability remaining a top voter concern as November elections approach.

Voters in the upcoming November elections have prioritized affordability, making ACA and other health-plan costs a central campaign factor.

The February enrollment figures reflect the first official look at the impact of a nonpayment grace period expiring, capturing early-year payments data.

Data compiled in April show how nonpayment and billing issues are affecting total ACA enrollment for February.

Officials attribute the decline partly to a federal crackdown on fraudulent enrollments, but analysts say the expiration of subsidies on January 1 likely pushed premiums higher and led to cancellations and nonpayment.

ACA enrollment has grown among gig workers and others without employer coverage, so affordability shifts hit this group notably.

Cynthia Cox of KFF notes that real people lost coverage as many faced double- or triple-digit premium increases, underscoring affordability pressures.

Earlier January estimates already showed about 800,000 fewer sign-ups year over year, marking the first shopping-window decline in four years.

Analysts project total ACA enrollment could continue to fall through 2026, potentially reaching around 17.5 million by year’s end.

The report emphasizes that February figures reflect a snapshot and may not capture longer-term enrollment trends.