Tens of thousands of people in Massachusetts are now without health insurance after losing federal subsidies that made their coverage affordable. According to the Health Connector, the state’s insurance marketplace, enrollment has dropped by 7% in just three months. This decline came as federal policies changed, causing premiums to skyrocket for those who had been receiving assistance.
Billions in federal aid ended in 2025 when Congress missed the chance to extend it. For many, this meant that premiums more than doubled or even tripled. In Massachusetts alone, over 22,000 residents canceled their health insurance—a number that’s more than twice the usual rate.
Additionally, about 35,000 people lost their coverage because they couldn’t keep up with their payments. Audrey Morse Gasteier, the executive director of the Health Connector, predicts that this trend will continue as more individuals struggle to afford their premiums.
“We expect ongoing losses as people who want to keep their coverage find they just can’t pay,” Gasteier noted in a recent meeting. The Health Connector serves those who earn too much for Medicaid but don’t have employer-sponsored insurance, with most enrollees relying on public subsidies.
In response to the loss of federal aid, Governor Maura Healey allocated an additional $250 million in state support for health care subsidies. Unfortunately, this increase wasn’t enough to cover everyone facing a loss of federal assistance.
Health officials and advocates worry that many of those who dropped their plans now lack coverage entirely. This could lead to a rise in uninsured individuals who may delay necessary care or rely heavily on emergency rooms for treatment.
“These people need care, but they won’t be able to afford it,” said Jason Lefferts, the Health Connector’s senior director of external affairs.
As it stands, over 352,000 individuals remain enrolled in Health Connector plans. This situation highlights an urgent need for sustainable solutions to healthcare funding. A recent survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that nearly 60% of American adults worry about affording healthcare. This concern resonates with the recent challenges in Massachusetts, underscoring a broader, national struggle.
For an in-depth look at the impact of changing healthcare policies, you can explore this Kaiser Family Foundation report.
