Far fewer Arizonans enrolled in Obamacare early in 2026 compared to the same time in 2025.
New federal data shows Arizona had one of the largest enrollment drop-offs in the country.
The new numbers account for monthly enrollment in February.
The data accounts for people who got coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace and stayed on because they were able to pay their first month's premium.
Compared to February last year, over 100,000 fewer Arizonans signed up for coverage, almost a 30% drop.
The decline in enrollment comes after Congress allowed Affordable Care Act subsidies to expire at the end of 2025, which has led to higher premiums. The health policy researcher KFF has found enrollees are paying close to 60% more per month for coverage.
An earlier report published by KFF in May found deductibles increased as well by about 37%.
Despite the higher premiums, the Trump administration says the drop is because of a crackdown on fraudulent enrollments.
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It's a lesson every doctor learns eventually: Don’t always assume that what you see tells the whole story. Medical commentator Dr. Joseph Sirven explains. -
In the future, Phoenix will not only see more intense high temperatures, but longer heat seasons, climate projections show. -
Health insurance companies in the Affordable Care Act marketplace are seeking an average premium increase of 25% in Arizona for 2027. -
As summer temperatures have soared, so too have cases of dehydration and heatstroke in the Mexican state south of Arizona. -
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