More than 159,000 Floridians have already lost their Affordable Care Act coverage following the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, according to a new report from the advocacy group Protect Our Care.
The analysis showed open enrollment numbers are down by over 1 million nationally, with Florida ranking third among the hardest-hit states.
Vaishu Jawahar, director of policy programs for Protect Our Care, said the fallout is just beginning.
"What we're seeing is a devastating impact from Republicans eliminating the enhanced premium tax credits," Jawahar explained. "Tax credits that really were critical to making health care affordable for working families."
Conservative leaders had urged President Donald Trump to let the credits expire, calling them "temporary" and "bankrupting our country," though some Republicans proposed a one-year extension. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation approved a 34.1% average rate hike for 2026, noting subsidized policyholders remain "relatively immune." However, officials project enrollment could still drop 25% to 30% with the subsidies now expired.
The totals do not include those forced into high-deductible plans or who will lose coverage later due to nonpayment. Protect Our Care estimates 5 million Americans could lose their health coverage by the end of 2026. Jawahar noted the effects extend beyond those who lost coverage, affecting hospitals and the broader economy as uncompensated care costs rise and facilities close.
"When people are uninsured, they don't stop needing health care," Jawahar pointed out. "They will still go get health care, but they'll be forced to go to the emergency room, and they'll be forced to be in worse condition when they finally get their health care, which is actually more expensive on the system, more expensive for everyone."
The analysis found small business owners and older adults aged 50 to 64 are among the hardest hit, with some facing premiums exceeding $40,000 annually. Nationwide, Protect Our Care estimates 330,000 health care jobs could be lost in 2026 as hospitals and clinics close or reduce services due to the coverage losses.
