Open Enrollment 2026 Update

About This Enrollment Update

The Health Connector’s Open Enrollment ended on January 23, 2026. However, final enrollment trends will not be fully clear until February 2026.

Throughout Open Enrollment, the Health Connector released this weekly public dashboard to provide data about enrollment and plan shopping trends. Federal policy changes reduced the value of Affordable Care Act premium tax credits (or subsidies) used to lower health insurance costs and also made fewer people eligible for them at all, making 2026 coverage more expensive for many Health Connector enrollees.

This final Open Enrollment snapshot provides insight into enrollment activity through the last day that enrollees could shop and pay for February 2026 coverage, showing overall enrollment by subsidy level, average premiums by subsidy level, coverage choices, and call center trends. This dashboard also provides details on member movement among populations that lost access to subsidies as a result of federal policy changes.

The monthly Board report, available on February 2, will include activity related to retroactive disenrollments in 2026 coverage due to non-payment of January premiums.

Page contents

Dashboard

Open Enrollment for 2026 Health Connector coverage runs November 1, 2025, to January 23, 2026. This dashboard provides data on overall trends for Open Enrollment 2026. It monitors the impacts of federal policy changes that limit eligibility for federal premium tax credits and the state ConnectorCare program. Due to these federal policy changes, Health Connector coverage offerings are changing for 2026.

  1. People with income below 100 percent of the federal poverty level, current ConnectorCare Plan Type 1 enrollees, will no longer be eligible for federal premium tax credits or ConnectorCare.
  2. People with income between 400.01 percent and 500 percent of the federal poverty level, current ConnectorCare Plan Type 3D enrollees, will no longer be eligible for federal premium tax credits or ConnectorCare. 
  3. People with income greater than 500 percent of the federal poverty level–current APTC-only enrollees–will no longer be eligible for federal premium tax credits.

  • Actively Shopped or Shopping for 2026 Coverage: A person who took action to choose their health plan for 2026. They may choose a 2026 health plan with a different carrier or metallic tier than their current 2025 plan.
  • APTC Only: A person who is eligible for federal premium tax credits and is not enrolled in ConnectorCare.  In 2026, all individuals who qualify for Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTC) will also qualify for ConnectorCare.  Only individuals who previously had an unsubsidized program determination, have now become ConnectorCare eligible, and have not yet shopped for a ConnectorCare plan will fall into this category.
  • Average Premium: The average amount that individuals have to pay for their health coverage per member per month, after the application of federal and state premium subsidies.
  • ConnectorCare: A person who is eligible for and enrolled in ConnectorCare with an income between 100 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level. ConnectorCare combines federal premium tax credits with state premium subsidies and cost-sharing reductions to increase affordability. ConnectorCare is broken into plan types 1 through 3D based on the federal poverty range.
  • Enrolled: A person who has selected and paid for the first month of coverage or is continuing existing coverage with the same carrier.
  • New: members who are not enrolled in health coverage in November or December.
  • Not Eligible: A person who is not eligible to purchase health insurance through the Health Connector. This reflects a change in circumstances (“not qualified for health coverage”, e.g., withdrew an application, eligibility for Medicare, moved out of state), or eligibility for the state Medicaid Program (“moved to MassHealth”).
  • Not Enrolled: A person who is eligible to enroll and no longer has 2026 coverage (“No 2026 coverage”) or has chosen a plan and not yet paid for the first month of coverage (“Shopping for 2026 Coverage”).
  • Passively Renewed: A person who went through the Health Connector’s auto-enrollment process and is enrolled in 2026 coverage with the same plan as they have for 2025.
  • Retained: members who are enrolled in health coverage in November or December.
  • Unsubsidized: A person who does not receive any help paying for their health insurance coverage (i.e., federal premium tax credits or state premium subsidies).

In the bottom right corner of the dashboard, there is a download icon. Click on the icon and select “PDF”.

A “Download PDF” pop-up box will appear.

  • For “Include”, select “Specific sheets from this workbook”. To download all sheets, use the “Select All” button, or click on the sheets you wish to select.
  • For “Orientation”, select “Landscape”.
  • Click “Download” to save.

Note: This information is provided for general informational purposes only and may not align exactly with other reporting based on the specific data methodologies used.

Key Takeaways

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
  • 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

Past Weeks’ Takeaways

Based on current trends, total Health Connector enrollment for 2026 is lower than it was at the end of 2025.

  • Health Connector individual market enrollment for 2026 is 378,571, a two percent reduction from unique enrollees during November and December 2025
  • The Health Connector will continue to monitor payment activity to determine how many individuals will lose coverage as the result of non-payment, particularly among individuals losing subsidies for their 2026 coverage

Cancellations are higher than in previous years.

  • Nearly 24,000 enrollees have canceled their renewal year plan so far, more than double the number at the same point last year
  • Individuals renewing into unsubsidized coverage — either because they are losing subsidies received today or are currently unsubsidized and remaining so next year – are more likely to have canceled their 2026 coverage than other types of current enrollees

Among those who are maintaining their Health Connector enrollment, shopping activity is consistent with prior years.

  • “Shopping activity” (people proactively comparing plans and potentially picking a new one, as opposed to “passively renewing”) among current enrollees is higher than last year
  • Most members are staying with their same plan for 2026, but those who change generally move to a lower cost carrier or metallic tier

New enrollments are consistent with prior years.

  • Over 34,000 new individuals have enrolled for 2026 coverage, which is about 4,000 fewer enrollments than last year at this point

Premiums are increasing for all enrollees, but ConnectorCare provides significant protection.

  • Reduced availability and generosity of federal subsidies, combined with underlying premium increases, will result in higher monthly premiums for members
  • Premium increases vary widely by income, and ConnectorCare will absorb part of the impact of expiring federal subsidies for members between 100 and 400 percent FPL (Plan Types 2A through 3C)

The Contact Center continues to provide timely support to a high volume of members and applicants navigating their coverage options.

  • Between January 11 and January 16, the Health Connector’s contact center received 36,697 calls, bringing the total calls during Open Enrollment so far to 335,829, about nine percent higher than the overall volume last year at this point
  • Increased call volume during peak times has led to longer wait times to speak to an agent, and, relatedly, to increased call abandonment. Callers reaching out during high-volume times may select the option for a call back
  • Many callers express concerns about affording their 2026 premium and want help finding a lower-cost alternative
  • Dissatisfaction with issue resolution stems from a lack of affordable options, rather than a lack of support from call center representatives

Based on current trends, total Health Connector enrollment for 2026 is lower than it was at the end of 2025.

  • Health Connector individual market enrollment for 2026 is 372,971 as of January 11, a one percent reduction from December 2025 enrollment
  • The Health Connector will continue to monitor payment activity to determine how many individuals will lose coverage as the result of non-payment, particularly among individuals losing subsidies for their 2026 coverage

Cancellations are higher than in previous years.

  • Over 24,000 enrollees have canceled their renewal year plan so far, more than double the number at the same point last year
  • Individuals renewing into unsubsidized coverage — either because they are losing subsidies received today or are currently unsubsidized and remaining so next year – are more likely to have canceled their 2026 coverage than other types of current enrollees

Among those who are maintaining their Health Connector enrollment, shopping activity is consistent with prior years.

  • “Shopping activity” (people proactively comparing plans and potentially picking a new one, as opposed to “passively renewing”) among current enrollees is slightly higher than last year
  • Most members are staying with their same plan for 2026, but those who change generally move to a lower cost carrier or metallic tier

New enrollments are consistent with prior years.

  • Over 30,000 new individuals have enrolled for 2026 coverage, which is about 3,000 fewer enrollments than last year at this point

Premiums are increasing for all enrollees, but ConnectorCare provides significant protection.

  • Reduced availability and generosity of federal subsidies, combined with underlying premium increases, will result in higher monthly premiums for members
  • Premium increases vary widely by income, and ConnectorCare will absorb part of the impact of expiring federal subsidies for members between 100 and 400 percent FPL (Plan Types 2A through 3C)

The Contact Center continues to provide timely support to a high volume of members and applicants navigating their coverage options.

  • Between January 4 and January 9, the Health Connector’s contact center received 31,901 calls, bringing the total calls during Open Enrollment so far to 299,132, about 10 percent higher than overall volume last year at this point
  • Increased call volume during peak times has lead to periodic longer wait times to speak to an agent, and, relatedly, to increased call abandonment. Callers reaching out during high-volume times may select the option for a call back
  • Many callers express concerns about affording their 2026 premium and want help finding a lower-cost alternative
  • Dissatisfaction with issue resolution stems from a lack of affordable options, rather than a lack of support from call center representatives

Based on current trends, total Health Connector enrollment for 2026 is likely to be lower than it was in 2025.

  • Health Connector individual market enrollment for 2026 is 368,436 as of January 4, a two percent reduction from December 2025 enrollment
  • The Health Connector will continue to monitor payment activity to determine how many individuals will lose coverage as the result of non-payment, particularly among individuals losing subsidies for their 2026 coverage

Cancellations are higher than in previous years.

  • Over 25,000 enrollees have canceled their renewal year plan so far, more than double the number at the same point last year
  • Individuals renewing into unsubsidized coverage — either because they are losing subsidies received today or are currently unsubsidized and remaining so next year – are more likely to have canceled their 2026 coverage than other types of current enrollees

Among those who are maintaining their Health Connector enrollment, shopping activity is consistent with prior years.

  • “Shopping activity” (people proactively comparing plans and potentially picking a new one, as opposed to “passively renewing”) among current enrollees is slightly higher than last year
  • Most members are staying with their same plan for 2026, but those who change generally move to a lower cost carrier or metallic tier

New enrollments are consistent with prior years.

  • Over 26,000 new individuals have enrolled for 2026 coverage, which is about 2,000 fewer enrollments than last year at this point

Premiums are increasing for all enrollees, but ConnectorCare provides significant protection.

  • Reduced availability and generosity of federal subsidies, combined with underlying premium increases, will result in higher monthly premiums for members
  • Premium increases vary widely by income, and ConnectorCare will absorb part of the impact of expiring federal subsidies for members between 100 and 400 percent FPL (Plan Types 2A through 3C)

The Contact Center continues to provide timely support to a high volume of members and applicants navigating their coverage options.

  • Between December 28 and January 2, the Health Connector’s contact center received 25,156 calls, bringing the total calls during Open Enrollment so far to 267,231-, about 10 percent higher than overall volume last year at this point
  • Increased call volume during peak times has lead to periodic longer wait times to speak to an agent, and, relatedly, to increased call abandonment. Callers reaching out during high-volume times may select the option for a call back
  • Many callers express concerns about affording their 2026 premium and want help finding a lower-cost alternative
  • Dissatisfaction with issue resolution stems from a lack of affordable options, rather than a lack of support from call center representatives

Based on current trends, total Health Connector enrollment for 2026 is likely to be lower than it was in 2025.

  • Health Connector individual market enrollment for 2026 is 371,453 as of December 28, a one percent reduction from December 2025 enrollment
  • The Health Connector will continue to monitor payment activity to determine whether individuals are likely to lose coverage as the result of non-payment, particularly among individuals losing subsidies for their 2026 coverage

Cancellations are higher than in previous years.

  • Over 22,000 enrollees have canceled their renewal year plan so far, more than double the number at the same point last year
  • Individuals renewing into unsubsidized coverage — either because they are losing subsidies received today or are currently unsubsidized and remaining so next year – are more likely to have canceled their 2026 coverage than other types of current enrollees

Among those who are maintaining their Health Connector enrollment, shopping activity is consistent with prior years.

  • “Shopping activity” (people proactively comparing plans and potentially picking a new one, as opposed to “passively renewing”) among current enrollees is consistent with prior years
  • Most members are staying with their same plan for 2026, but those who change generally move to a lower cost carrier or metallic tier

New enrollments are consistent with prior years.

  • Over 23,500 new individuals have enrolled for 2026 coverage, which is about 2,000 fewer enrollments than last year at this point

Premiums are increasing for all enrollees, but ConnectorCare provides significant protection.

  • Reduced availability and generosity of federal subsidies, combined with underlying premium increases, will result in higher monthly premiums for members
  • Premium increases vary widely by income, and ConnectorCare will absorb part of the impact of expiring federal subsidies for members between 100 and 400 percent FPL (Plan Types 2A through 3C)

The Contact Center continues to provide timely support to a high volume of members and applicants navigating their coverage options.

  • Between December 21 and December 26, the Health Connector’s contact center received 27,864 calls, bringing the total calls during Open Enrollment so far to 242,075, about 13 percent higher than the overall volume last year at this point
  • 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 may select the option for a call back
  • Many callers express concerns about affording their 2026 premium and want help finding a lower-cost alternative
  • Dissatisfaction with issue resolution stems from a lack of affordable options, rather than a lack of support from call center representatives

Based on current trends, total Health Connector enrollment for 2026 is likely to be lower than it was in 2025.

  • Health Connector individual market enrollment for 2026 is 361,192 as of December 21, a four percent reduction from December 2025 enrollment
  • Many current and new enrollees are taking steps to enroll and must pay for the plan they have selected by December 23
  • The Health Connector will continue to monitor payment activity to determine whether individuals are likely to lose coverage as the result of non-payment, particularly among individuals losing subsidies for their 2026 coverage

Cancellations are higher than in previous years.

  • Over 20,000 enrollees have canceled their renewal year plan so far, about double the number at the same point last year
  • Individuals renewing into unsubsidized coverage — either because they are losing subsidies received today or are currently unsubsidized and remaining so next year – are more likely to have canceled their 2026 coverage than other types of current enrollees

Among those who are maintaining their Health Connector enrollment, shopping activity is consistent with prior years.

  • “Shopping activity” (people proactively comparing plans and potentially picking a new one, as opposed to “passively renewing”) among current enrollees is consistent with prior years
  • Most members are staying with their same plan for 2026, but those who change generally move to a lower cost carrier or metallic tier

New enrollments are consistent with prior years.

  • Over 15,300 new individuals have enrolled for 2026 coverage, which is about 3,000 fewer enrollments than last year at this point

Premiums are increasing for all enrollees, but ConnectorCare provides significant protection.

  • Reduced availability and generosity of federal subsidies, combined with underlying premium increases, will result in higher monthly premiums for members
  • Premium increases vary widely by income, and ConnectorCare will absorb part of the impact of expiring federal subsidies for members between 100 and 400 percent FPL (Plan Types 2A through 3C)

The Contact Center continues to provide timely support to a high volume of members and applicants navigating their coverage options.

  • Between December 14 and December 20, the Health Connector’s contact center received 46,141 calls, bringing the total calls during Open Enrollment so far to 214,211, about 10 percent higher than overall volume last year at this point
  • Increased call volume during peak times has lead to periodic longer wait times to speak to an agent, and, relatedly, to increased call abandonment. Callers reaching out during high-volume times may select the option for a call back
  • Many callers express concerns about affording their 2026 premium and want help finding a lower-cost alternative
  • Dissatisfaction with issue resolution stems from a lack of affordable options, rather than a lack of support from call center representatives

Based on current trends, total Health Connector enrollment for 2026 is likely to be lower than it was in 2025.

  • Health Connector individual market enrollment for 2026 is 361,541 as of December 14, a three percent reduction from the 376,784 enrolled for December
  • Many current and new enrollees are taking steps to enroll and must pay for the plan they have selected by December 23
  • The Health Connector will continue to monitor payment activity to determine whether individuals are likely to lose coverage as the result of non-payment, particularly among individuals losing subsidies for their 2026 coverage

Cancellations are higher than in previous years.

  • Over 13,000 enrollees have canceled their renewal year plan so far, about double the number at the same point last year
  • Individuals renewing into unsubsidized coverage — either because they are losing subsidies received today or are currently unsubsidized and remaining so next year – are more likely to have canceled their 2026 coverage than other types of current enrollees
  • Individuals under age 35 are disproportionately more likely to cancel their plans for 2026

Among those who are maintaining their Health Connector enrollment, shopping activity is consistent with prior years.

  • “Shopping activity” (people proactively comparing plans and potentially picking a new one, as opposed to “passively renewing”) among current enrollees is consistent with prior years
  • Most members are staying with their same plan for 2026, but those who change generally move to a lower cost carrier or metallic tier

New enrollments are consistent with prior years.

  • Over 9,700 new individuals have enrolled for 2026 coverage, which is about the same as last year at this point

Premiums are increasing for all enrollees, but ConnectorCare provides significant protection.

  • Reduced availability and generosity of federal subsidies, combined with underlying premium increases, will result in higher monthly premiums for members
  • Premium increases vary widely by income, and ConnectorCare will absorb part of the impact of expiring federal subsidies for members between 100 and 400 percent FPL (Plan Types 2A through 3C)

The Contact Center continues to provide timely support to a high volume of members and applicants navigating their coverage options.

  • Between December 7 and December 14, the Health Connector’s contact center received 31,001 calls, bringing the total calls during Open Enrollment so far to 168,070, about 6 percent higher than overall volume last year at this point
  • Many callers express concerns about affording their 2026 premium and want help finding a lower cost alternative
  • Dissatisfaction on issue resolution stems from a lack of affordable options, rather than a lack of support from call center representatives