Insurers Continue Exiting ACA Marketplaces Ahead of 2026 Plan Year
A wave of insurer exits reshaped ACA marketplace options heading into the 2026 plan year. Aetna decided to stop selling marketplace plans nationally, including in states like New Jersey, according to Get Covered New Jersey, prompting affected enrollees to be automatically shifted to comparable plans with new carriers where possible.
Other state-level exits and entries were also reported for 2026, including changes affecting Washington state's individual market and several regional carriers, according to sourcing compiled by healthinsurance.org. The outlet notes that insurer exits and entries "can result in changing benchmark premiums, which can change premium subsidy amounts" even for consumers who don't actively switch plans.
Combined with the broader expiration of enhanced premium tax credits at the end of 2025, the insurer-level changes add another layer of uncertainty for shoppers comparing plans for 2026, particularly in regions where a previously popular carrier is no longer an option.
Consumers affected by an insurer exit are generally entitled to a special enrollment period under the "loss of other coverage" qualifying event, typically with a 60-day window to select a new plan.