Massachusetts wraps up 2026 Open Enrollment up 0.7% y/y thanks to expanded ConnectorCare subsidies

via the MA Health Connector:

Week of January 25, 2026

Coming out of open enrollment, Health Connector enrollment for 2026 is slightly higher than it was at the end of 2025.

• Health Connector individual market enrollment for 2026 is 391,744, a 1.6 percent increase compared to total unique enrollees in November and December 2025

Note: Compared to the 389,191 MA residents who selected exchange plans during the 2025 Open Enrollment Period (OEP), however, MA Health Connector enrollment is only up 0.7% year over year.

• However, the proportion of enrollees receiving help paying for their coverage decreased from 87 percent at the end of 2025 to 75 percent at the start of 2026

• The reduction in subsidized enrollment is due to federal policy changes that eliminated eligibility for federal premium tax credits and the state ConnectorCare program for individuals with income up to 100 percent FPL and between 400 and 500 percent FPL and eliminated eligibility for federal premium tax credits above 500 percent FPL

• Thus, in 2026, enrollment in a health plan without subsidies is nearly double compared to the end of 2025; Notably, a portion of these individuals have not yet paid for their January 2026 coverage

• In February, the Health Connector will report on terminations as a result of non-payment of premiums, particularly among individuals who lost subsidies for their 2026 coverage

ConnectorCare enabled many individuals to keep affordable coverage.

• Overall enrollment in ConnectorCare decreased by more than 10 percent in 2026 compared to the end of 2025

• However, enrollment within the 2026 eligibility for ConnectorCare (with income between 100 and 400 percent) increased nearly 8 percent compared to the end of 2025, from 272,562 in November and December 2025 to 294,244 at the start of 2026, suggesting state premium subsidies (including an additional $250 million in 2026 compared to last year’s state premium support) helped to buffer the impact of the loss of enhanced premium tax credits for the population that retained eligibility for federal premium tax credits and ConnectorCare

Cancellations were higher than in previous years.

• Nearly 23,000 enrollees canceled their renewal year plan for 2026 coverage, more than double the number who canceled their renewal year plan for 2025 coverage

• About half of the individuals who canceled their plan lost eligibility for federal premium subsidies and therefore state subsidies as a result of federal policy changes effective in 2026

• Several respondents to a recent survey of 2025 Health Connector enrollees who disenrolled from 2026 coverage cited affordability as the primary reason they terminated their coverage:
  • “I am deeply concerned about my inability to afford health care. The ACA made an impossible insurance situation accessible. My policy premium went from about $260/month to over $800/month, with unreachable deductibles and out-of-pocket costs.”
  • “The loss of the tax credit made it impossible for me to afford coverage.”
  • “I am pretty upset, I had really great insurance and now I cannot afford the premiums so I will go without and hope nothing happens.”

Among those who maintained their Health Connector enrollment, shopping activity was higher than prior years, but most enrollees stayed with their same plan.

• Overall, more people actively shopped for coverage during this open enrollment (i.e., proactively comparing plans and potentially picking a new one, as opposed to “passively renewing”) compared to last year

• Most members stayed with their same plan for 2026, but those who changed generally moved to a lower cost carrier or metallic tier

New enrollments were lower than last year.

• Over 46,561 new individuals enrolled in 2026 coverage, which is about 6,800 fewer new enrollments than last year at this point

Premiums increased for all enrollees, but ConnectorCare enrollees were protected from significant increases.

• Reduced availability and generosity of federal subsidies, combined with underlying premium increases, resulted in higher monthly premiums for members

• Premium increases varied widely by income with ConnectorCare enrollees experiencing an increase of about $34 per member per month, with state funding absorbing part of the impact of expiring federal subsidies for members between 100 and 400 percent FPL (Plan Types 2A through 3C)

• Individuals who lost eligibility for subsidies from 2025 to 2026 due to federal policy changes experienced the highest premium increases

The Contact Center provided timely support to a high volume of members and applicants navigating their coverage options throughout Open Enrollment.

Between January 18 and January 24, the Health Connector’s contact center received 39,407 calls, bringing the total calls during Open Enrollment to 376,011, nearly 8 percent higher than overall volume last year

Increased call volume during peak times has led to periodic longer wait times to speak to an agent, and, relatedly, to increased call abandonment. Callers reaching out during high-volume times could select the option for a call back

Many callers expressed concerns about affording their 2026 premium and wanted help finding a lower-cost alternative

Dissatisfaction with issue resolution stemmed from a lack of affordable options, rather than a lack of support from call center representatives