Michigan Sees Drop in Affordable Care Act Enrollment

Article Summary –

The expiration of tax credits initially provided by the American Rescue Plan Act and later extended by the Inflation Reduction Act led to a 27% decline in Affordable Care Act marketplace enrollment in Michigan for 2026, with 130,789 fewer people enrolled compared to 2025. The failure of Congress to further extend these subsidies has resulted in increased health insurance premiums, with 40% of marketplace enrollees reporting substantially higher costs, prompting Protect Our Care to launch its largest grassroots campaign, “Sick of It! Fix Health Care Now,” to address the issue. Additionally, a Protect Our Care fact sheet highlights that 23 healthcare providers in Michigan are at risk of closure or have already closed following significant Medicaid spending cuts as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

A new series of fact sheets by Protect Our Care highlights the sharp decline in Michigan’s Affordable Care Act marketplace enrollment. More than 130,000 fewer people opted for health insurance due to Congress’s failure to extend tax credits that previously reduced premiums.

According to KFF, Michigan saw a 27% decrease in ACA marketplace enrollment in February 2026 compared to 2025. Protect Our Care, a social welfare nonprofit, noted this in a series of state fact sheets released August 18.

The 2021 American Rescue Plan Act included premium subsidies, which were extended by the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, but expired in 2025 when Congress failed to act. In January, 17 House Republicans joined Democrats to pass a bill, but the Senate has not acted.

In a November social media post, President Donald Trump expressed support for individual plan negotiations over extending subsidies. He suggested direct financial support to individuals over insurance companies, reported by NBC News.

National ACA enrollment doubled from 2021 to 2025, per KFF, but dropped in 2026 across all states except New Mexico, which implemented state subsidies.

A March survey by KFF showed that 40% of returning enrollees reported their premiums are much higher, with 23% noting somewhat higher costs.

Protect Our Care’s “Sick of It! Fix Health Care Now” campaign features grassroots efforts to address healthcare issues, including town halls and a bus tour.

Fact sheets also reveal healthcare providers at risk of closure due to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The Congressional Budget Office estimated a $1 trillion cut in Medicaid over a decade.

A Protect Our Care Michigan fact sheet listed 23 healthcare providers facing cuts or closures.

Protect Our Care president Brad Woodhouse stated in a statement that rising healthcare costs force families to choose between essentials and coverage, affecting people nationwide.