Hundreds of thousands drop US health plans as subsidy expiry bites hardest in Florida
Months after enhanced federal subsidies for Affordable Care Act health plans expired in January, millions of Americans are confronting the consequences — with Florida emerging as the most visible epicentre of coverage losses, the Associated Press reports.
By Source Reporters Newsdesk
Thu, 27 August 2026 · 1 min read
Months after enhanced federal subsidies for Affordable Care Act health plans expired in January, millions of Americans are confronting the consequences — with Florida emerging as the most visible epicentre of coverage losses, the Associated Press reports.
About 440,000 Floridians dropped their Affordable Care Act plans this year after premiums rose — more than in any other state, according to figures first reported by the AP. Many who kept coverage saw costs double or triple after Congress declined to replace the expired subsidies, leaving them to weigh insurance against other necessities as grocery and petrol prices remain elevated.
For some, the trade-off has meant going without care entirely. Elijah Button, a 21-year-old chef in St. Cloud who gave up his plan in January because of a $100 monthly premium increase he could not afford, sliced his finger to the bone in a kitchen accident in June and treated it himself. "Going to the hospital for it wasn't even an option," he told the AP.
Florida's large population of gig workers, entrepreneurs and small business owners relies heavily on the federal marketplace, magnifying the impact locally of the nationwide subsidy lapse. Health insurers are projecting another year of double-digit premium increases for 2027, suggesting further affordability pressure ahead.
While Florida had the largest number of affected residents, the AP notes its struggles reflect broader nationwide concerns over rising healthcare costs and what it describes as a lack of meaningful policy action from lawmakers to address them.
**Sources:** Associated Press
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