Virginia ACA enrollment drops by more than 44,000 as federal tax credits expire

Virginia state Democrats are proposing using state funds to help Virginians afford health insurance premiums after federal tax credits expired at the end of last year.

The director of Virginia's Insurance Marketplace said that expiration has led to tens of thousands of Virginians losing health insurance coverage through the state's Affordable Care Act marketplace this year and warns it could grow to 100,000 without intervention.

"Our customers are Virginians who don't have another option for health insurance coverage," said director Keven Patchett.

Patchett said when open enrollment closed on Jan. 30, 2026, 19,000 fewer Virginians had signed up compared to the previous year (389,000 compared to 370,000).

He added since then an additional 25,000 have lost coverage — which is three times more than the number who lost coverage during the same time period last year.

When asked if the loss in federal tax credits was the reason behind the drop, Patchett said, "It's the only factor that has changed."

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