FL-26: Mario Diaz-Balart (R): 31.6% FL-27: Maria Elvira Salazar (R): 39.5% FL-28: Carlos Gimenez (R): 37.0% That's right: Nearly 40% of FL-27's ENTIRE POPULATION relies on #ACA exchange coverage. That's nearly 300,000 people in Salazar's district alone.
Officially, Florida #ACA market carriers are hoping to increase gross premiums by an average of 24% next year. (I had to make an educated guess as to the actual enrollment among some carriers since this is considered a "trade secret" under Florida law if they don't want to publish it publicly).
But once again, as much as being hit with a 24% health insurance premium spike would suck for those currently paying full price in the first place, that's nothing compared to what's facing the other ~4.3 million or so Floridians who currently receive federal subsidies.
Oh yeah...I forgot to mention that in addition to everything else, the Trump Admin's so-called "Integrity Rule" will also increase the maxmium *out of pocket* ceiling on ACA plans (ie, deductibles, co-pays, etc) by ~$900 more than it otherwise would be. So, y'know...there's that.
OK, that's it for the Big States. Next, let's look at the final 3 states. All of them have small populations and small ACA enrollment numbers. So why am I posting them last? You'll see in a moment.
First up: WYOMING, which only has ~39,000 or so ACA enrollees (which is still 6.6% of their total population). Wyoming has 3 ACA carriers this year, but will only have 2 next year because one of them is dropping out...largely due to the subsidies expiring. acasignups.net/ira-subsidy-...
Wyoming's 2 remaining ACA carriers are raising premiums by 22% on average, which (spoiler) is also roughly the national average for 2026. Only a couple thousand Wyomingites are currently unsubsidized; that's what they have to look forward to.
What about the ~44,000 who are currently subsidized? Well...this may explain why one of the carriers said "Screw you guys, we're out of here."
This leaves ALASKA and WEST VIRGINIA. On the surface, Alaska looks more dramatic, but the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) thresholds are also 25% higher in Alaska than the rest of the country (except for Hawaii, which is 15% higher). So, I'm listing Alaska 2nd to last: acasignups.net/ira-subsidy-...
Alaska only has around 27,000 ACA enrollees, and amazingly, their 2 individual market carriers are actually DROPPING gross premiums ever so slightly next year (by a whopping 0.2% on average). Alaska has the dubious honor of being the ONLY state REDUCING gross ACA premiums in 2026.
"Ah-ha!" you may be thinking: Alaska's ACA premiums are essentially FLAT year over year, so enrollees can breath a sigh of relief, right?" For the ~3,000 or so who are paying full price this year...yes. They should be fine. For the other ~25,000 or so, however...
A lot of these enrollees are children of working parents. A lot of florida employers will give you healthcare coverage but have purchased plans that are absolutely cost prohibitive to add a spouse or child. So a large chunk of these are too rich for medicaid but to poor to eat the ehi cost.
True of many PA employers also, and probably everywhere. Non-union shops being what they are.
Right to work is great stuff.
My goodness…people are going to riot. They’re going to be stunned. It’s like a tsunami is 20 miles off-shore and most of the residents voted to turn off the warning sirens.