PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — About 85,000 people in Pennsylvania dropped their Pennie health insurance coverage due to the expiration of federal tax credits.
The state health exchange says nearly 1 in 5 enrollees couldn't afford to keep their coverage for 2026.
Without the tax credits, which helped people afford their premiums, the average cost of a plan went up 102%. Before the credits expired, the state expected enrollment to increase.
About 33,000 people switched to plans with less coverage and higher deductibles.
Terminations were highest among older and rural Pennsylvanians, as well as those with incomes just above Medicaid and those who are above the new income cliff of $63,000 a year.
"For people in that category, we saw many who were paying a couple hundred dollars a month for coverage and now going up to thousands of dollars every month to keep their coverage," explained Devon Trolley, executive director of Pennie.
Negotiations in Washington over extending the tax credits have stalled.
Trolley said more uninsured residents means delayed care, worse health outcomes, and a greater reliance on emergency rooms.
