Key Takeaways Thursday is the last day in most states to enroll in Affordable Care Act plans for 2026.Enrollees are facing monthly payments that are more than double on average because Congress allowed a pandemic-era health care subsidy to expire.

NEW YORK (AP) — Thursday was the final day to select an Affordable Care Act health insurance plan across much of the country, as the expiration of federal subsidies drives up health costs and lawmakers remain locked in a debate over how to address the issue.

After the ACA tax credit lapsed in December, enrollees are opting for less robust health plans or dropping coverage altogether.

The most recent snapshot, though incomplete, indicates a stabler marketplace and less coverage loss than many experts and insurers feared.