The Trump administration has released a new update on enrollment on the Affordable Care Act's exchanges, with signups lagging notably behind figures for the 2025 plan year.
Per the latest snapshot report, nearly 22.8 million people have signed up for coverage across the exchanges through Jan. 3. By comparison, 23.6 million people had enrolled in ACA plans through Jan. 4, 2025, according to a report from a year ago.
Of that total, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said 2.8 million individuals are new enrollees, while nearly 20 million are returning customers. Close to 15.6 million people signed up for coverage through Healthcare.gov, and 7.2 million used a state-based exchange, according to the report.
Most of the new customers, or about 2.1 million, enrolled through Healthcare.gov, CMS said.
CMS reported close to 3.2 million new signups over a similar time period a year ago.
Open enrollment on the ACA exchanges continues through Thursday, Jan. 15, with coverage kicking in on Feb. 1.
The exchanges are currently at the center of a political fight in Congress as legislators debate how to best address the rising cost of premiums following the expiry of the post-COVID enhanced subsidies. Democrats favor a "clean" extension that would grant three additional years of the subsidies and allow time to negotiate a more long-term deal on healthcare affordability.
Republicans, meanwhile, have touted broader reform, including policy proposals that lean on health savings accounts or direct payments to individuals.
A House package that would extend the subsidies has passed to the Senate, and is expected to fail there. President Trump indicated he may veto an extension should one reach his desk.