Pennie, Pennsylvania’s ACA marketplace, saw about 1 in 5 users drop healthcare coverage in the wake of enhanced premium tax credits expiring, according to a Feb. 9 news release.
Pennsylvania was among a handful of states to extend its open enrollment window beyond Jan. 15. The state ended its 2026 open enrollment period with 486,000 people, and Pennie said momentum dwindled throughout the window. Compared to 2025, this year’s enrollment was originally 11% higher at the beginning of the period but wound up 2% lower by the end.
Older and rural Pennsylvanians had the highest levels of coverage terminations, along with those who have incomes just above Medicaid or the new income threshold.
In 2026, about 79,500 Pennsylvanians enrolled through Pennie for the first time, down 12% year over year. Pennsylvanians have also downgraded their coverage, with about 33,000 more enrolled in bronze plans than in 2025, a 30% increase.
KFF previously estimated that premiums would double for subsidized enrollees following the expiration, but Congress has struggled to find a path forward regarding the subsidies in recent weeks. In the past few months, several states have been attempting to alleviate these cost pressures.
