Enrollment down through Maine’s health insurance marketplace
Enrollment through Maine’s health insurance marketplace for coverage starting Jan. 1 has decreased by 7% compared to the same time last year, as premiums are set to rise significantly with the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies.In an interview on Sunday’s “Total Maine,” Bob Carey, superintendent of Maine’s Bureau of Insurance, and Hilary Schneider, director of the Office of Health Insurance Marketplace, discussed the decline in enrollment and the outlook for 2026.”We’ve also seen a decline in enrollment since the beginning of open enrollment, which is not typical,” Schneider said. She estimates that approximately 5,700 Mainers with insurance purchased through the marketplace have canceled renewals for 2026.”The other trend we’re seeing is people are choosing health plans that have higher out-of-pocket costs, and so they’re because those health plans have lower premiums, but they have more cost exposure for the consumers,” Schneider said.Carey said the enrollment numbers highlight the critical nature of health care for Maine residents, with cost increases potentially forcing some to forgo other necessities. He expressed hope that discussions will expand beyond insurance costs to address the broader costs of health care, including prescription drugs and hospitalizations.With the urgency to secure coverage, reports of scams have increased. “These folks are preyed upon by scammers who call or text them or, you know, if they open up the internet, and they click on a link and provide a little bit of information, and they get deluged with information that’s not correct and that, to me, will be a consequence of this open enrollment period. It happens for Medicare-eligible people as well as non-Medicare-eligible people,” Carey said.Schneider warned that without an extension of enhanced subsidies, enrollment numbers could decline further in 2026 if unexpected costs prevent some people from affording monthly premiums. “People go to great extremes, especially if they have health care needs or a history of health care needs to afford coverage, and those increases may be unsustainable for them,” Schneider said. “I think we’re not going to really see the shakeout from this until, you know, at least through the spring of next year.”Despite rising premiums, Schneider emphasized that subsidies are still available on CoverME.gov. For those who missed the deadline for coverage starting Jan. 1, there is still time to enroll for coverage beginning Feb. 1, with a deadline of Jan. 15.For assistance with enrollment or questions, individuals can call the marketplace helpline at 1-866-636-0355. If an insurance scam is suspected or support from the state’s Bureau of Insurance is needed, call 1-800-300-5000.
Enrollment through Maine’s health insurance marketplace for coverage starting Jan. 1 has decreased by 7% compared to the same time last year, as premiums are set to rise significantly with the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies.
In an interview on Sunday’s “Total Maine,” Bob Carey, superintendent of Maine’s Bureau of Insurance, and Hilary Schneider, director of the Office of Health Insurance Marketplace, discussed the decline in enrollment and the outlook for 2026.
“We’ve also seen a decline in enrollment since the beginning of open enrollment, which is not typical,” Schneider said. She estimates that approximately 5,700 Mainers with insurance purchased through the marketplace have canceled renewals for 2026.
“The other trend we’re seeing is people are choosing health plans that have higher out-of-pocket costs, and so they’re because those health plans have lower premiums, but they have more cost exposure for the consumers,” Schneider said.
Carey said the enrollment numbers highlight the critical nature of health care for Maine residents, with cost increases potentially forcing some to forgo other necessities. He expressed hope that discussions will expand beyond insurance costs to address the broader costs of health care, including prescription drugs and hospitalizations.
With the urgency to secure coverage, reports of scams have increased.
“These folks are preyed upon by scammers who call or text them or, you know, if they open up the internet, and they click on a link and provide a little bit of information, and they get deluged with information that’s not correct and that, to me, will be a consequence of this open enrollment period. It happens for Medicare-eligible people as well as non-Medicare-eligible people,” Carey said.
Schneider warned that without an extension of enhanced subsidies, enrollment numbers could decline further in 2026 if unexpected costs prevent some people from affording monthly premiums.
“People go to great extremes, especially if they have health care needs or a history of health care needs to afford coverage, and those increases may be unsustainable for them,” Schneider said. “I think we’re not going to really see the shakeout from this until, you know, at least through the spring of next year.”
Despite rising premiums, Schneider emphasized that subsidies are still available on CoverME.gov. For those who missed the deadline for coverage starting Jan. 1, there is still time to enroll for coverage beginning Feb. 1, with a deadline of Jan. 15.
For assistance with enrollment or questions, individuals can call the marketplace helpline at 1-866-636-0355.
If an insurance scam is suspected or support from the state’s Bureau of Insurance is needed, call 1-800-300-5000.
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