Centene’s Obamacare Enrollment Drops By 2 Million After Congress Strips Subsidies

InnovationHealthcareCentene’s Obamacare Enrollment Drops By 2 Million After Congress Strips SubsidiesByBruce Japsen,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Bruce Japsen writes about healthcare business and policy.Follow AuthorApr 28, 2026, 07:40am EDTApr 28, 2026, 07:53am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Centene headquarters in the St. Louis suburb of Clayton, Mo.CenteneHealth insurer Centene reported first quarter net income of more than $1.5 billion despite a drop of 2 million enrollees in individual coverage under the Affordable Care Act also known as Obamacare. Centene is one of the nation’s largest providers of Obamacare and the enrollment disclosure Tuesday as part of the company’s first quarter earnings report is a snapshot into what health insurers and Americans who buy their coverage are facing after Congress and the Trump administration failed to renew enhanced subsidies. Centene said Tuesday its enrollment in “marketplace” plans it sells under the Ambetter brand dropped to 3.58 million at the end of the first quarter compared to 5.54 million at the end of last year and 5.62 million in the year ago quarter. The big dip in Centene’s enrollment is what Democrats in Congress and health insurance industry analysts said would happen after Republicans in Congress and the Donald Trump White House wouldn’t agree to extend enhanced tax credits for buyers of Obamacare. A KFF analysis last fall said middle income Americans “as well as those with low incomes” will see “major out-of-pocket premium increases" if tax credits aren’t extended. And they are with customers reporting a doubling and even tripling of premiums for this year.The subsidies, or tax credits, made health insurance premiums more affordable for individuals and were enhanced by the Biden administration and the Democratic-controlled Congress, which passed the Infl...