The Trump administration has offered the first look at enrollment in marketplace plans as the debate over the future of the enhanced premium tax credits rages on.
A total of 5,757,039 people have signed up for coverage across HealthCare.gov and the state exchanges in the early weeks of the open enrollment period, according to new data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The agency said this reflects data available through Nov. 29.
Of that total, 4.6 million individuals signed up using HealthCare.gov, and 1.15 million signed up through a state-based exchange. It also includes 4.8 million returning enrollees and 949,450 new enrollees.
The figures are on par with the first data snapshot released by the CMS in 2024, which was posted Nov. 22. That report found 4.5 million individuals had signed up in the early weeks of open enrollment.
The healthcare industry is on tenterhooks watching the ongoing open enrollment period as it's unclear how the looming expiry of the enhanced subsidies will impact enrollment trends and final totals. The tax credits, which were put in place as part of the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, helped drive record highs in enrollment in the individual market that lured major players back to this space.
What is next for the subsidies remains to be seen as Congress is actively discussing the issue. Democrats have pushed for a "clean" extension that eases the significant premium spikes that many will face while buying time for legislators to take more decisive action on reform. Republicans, meanwhile, have favored allowing the subsidies to expire and instead offering other options to members, including contributions to health savings accounts.
Individuals looking for coverage that kicks in Jan. 1 have until Dec. 15 to enroll on the exchanges.