Quick answer: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says it canceled approximately 315,000 Affordable Care Act Marketplace enrollments covering more than 760,000 people on August 31, 2026, after CMS and participating insurers confirmed the enrollments were unauthorized. The action does not mean that 760,000 people were individually found guilty of fraud. Anyone who believes valid coverage was ended should check their Marketplace account and insurer notices immediately.
Key facts
- Action date: August 31, 2026
- Enrollments canceled: Approximately 315,000
- People covered by those enrollments: More than 760,000
- CMS’s stated reason: The enrollments were confirmed as unauthorized after review by CMS and health insurers
- Estimated federal subsidies affected: Approximately $2.2 billion in advance premium tax-credit payments
- What affected consumers should do: Review official notices, contact the Marketplace and confirm coverage directly with the insurer
More than 760,000 people were removed from Affordable Care Act Marketplace coverage after the federal government canceled approximately 315,000 enrollments that it says were unauthorized.
CMS announced the action on September 22, saying the cancellations occurred on August 31 following reviews by the agency and health insurance companies. The agency expects about $2.2 billion in advance payments of the premium tax credit to be returned because of the canceled enrollments.
The figures come from a CMS fact sheet and a related CMS announcement.
What exactly did CMS cancel?
CMS canceled enrollments, not 760,000 separate insurance policies. One Marketplace enrollment can cover multiple members of a household. That is why approximately 315,000 canceled enrollments affected more than 760,000 individuals.
The agency says the enrollments were confirmed as unauthorized through its existing investigation process with insurance companies. CMS did not publish a state-by-state breakdown or a public list of the consumers affected.
CMS also said it will continue to identify and investigate potentially unauthorized enrollments, cancel those it confirms were unauthorized and seek recovery of associated past federal subsidy payments.
Does “unauthorized” mean every affected person committed fraud?
No. CMS’s announcement characterizes the enrollments as unauthorized. It does not establish that every person listed on a canceled enrollment knowingly committed fraud.
Unauthorized Marketplace enrollment can involve several different situations. A consumer may have been enrolled without genuine consent, an application may contain inaccurate or incomplete information, a broker may have changed a plan without permission, or an enrollment may have been created using questionable applicant information.
Consumers should therefore avoid assuming that every affected household was responsible for wrongdoing. The government’s enforcement claims, the conduct of individual agents or brokers and a consumer’s eligibility are separate questions.
Why did CMS take this action?
CMS says unauthorized enrollments can trigger improper advance premium tax-credit payments, generate commissions for agents or brokers and leave consumers with unexpected coverage, medical-bill or tax problems.
The agency estimates the August cancellations will result in the return of approximately $2.2 billion in federal premium subsidies. That is an agency estimate rather than a final audited recovery total.
CMS also announced enforcement actions involving Marketplace agents and brokers. Since January 2026, the agency says it has sent termination notices to more than 200 noncompliant agents and brokers. It also issued 569 notices of intent to terminate Exchange Agreements to agents and brokers that submitted 2026 applications without identifying applicant information such as a Social Security number.
What should you do if your ACA coverage was canceled?
- Log in to your official Marketplace account. Review eligibility notices, application changes and the names of everyone listed on the enrollment.
- Contact your insurance company. Confirm whether the plan is active, the effective termination date and whether claims or prescriptions could be affected.
- Call the Marketplace. HealthCare.gov’s Marketplace Call Center is available at 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325). HealthCare.gov says it is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week except holidays.
- Keep records. Save notices, screenshots, application IDs, payment confirmations and the name and reference number for anyone you speak with.
- Ask about appeal or enrollment options. The correct process depends on whether the decision came from the Marketplace or the insurer and why coverage ended.
Use only official HealthCare.gov contact information. Do not send Social Security numbers, payment information or Marketplace credentials to people who contact you unexpectedly.
Can a canceled Marketplace decision be appealed?
Some Marketplace eligibility decisions can be appealed, generally within 90 days of the eligibility notice. HealthCare.gov says consumers should first submit requested documents when a notice asks them to confirm application information, because an updated eligibility decision may eliminate the need for an appeal.
The appeals route depends on what happened. A Marketplace eligibility or financial-assistance decision may use the Marketplace appeals process. If the insurance company ended coverage or denied a claim, the consumer may need to use the insurer’s appeals process instead.
Review the official Marketplace appeals guidance and confirm the correct process with the Marketplace or insurer. CYS provides general civic information, not individualized legal or insurance advice.
Who is affected?
The immediate impact falls on households whose Marketplace enrollments were canceled. A coverage interruption can affect doctor visits, prescriptions, scheduled procedures and claims that occur near the termination date.
Tax consequences may also arise when advance premium tax credits were paid for coverage that the government later treats as unauthorized. Consumers should keep Form 1095-A records and consult an appropriate tax professional about individual circumstances.
Insurance agents and brokers are also affected by the broader enforcement effort. CMS has imposed additional controls on Marketplace enrollment activity and announced a temporary freeze affecting certain new agent and broker registrations.
What remains uncertain?
CMS has not publicly released a complete state-by-state count of the canceled enrollments or explained the circumstances of every affected household. The announced $2.2 billion subsidy return is an estimate, and the ultimate amount recovered may differ.
It is also not yet clear how many affected consumers will challenge the cancellations, establish that they remain eligible or obtain replacement coverage. Those outcomes should not be presented as settled.
Ask Congress about Marketplace safeguards
Consumers can ask their senators how they would prevent unauthorized enrollments while protecting eligible households from wrongful coverage interruptions. Specific oversight questions include notice requirements, appeal timelines, broker accountability and recovery of improper subsidies.
Frequently asked questions
Were 760,000 separate ACA policies canceled?
No. CMS says approximately 315,000 enrollments covering more than 760,000 people were canceled. An enrollment can include multiple household members.
When were the Marketplace enrollments canceled?
CMS says the cancellations occurred on August 31, 2026. The agency publicly announced the action on September 22.
Why were the enrollments removed?
CMS says the enrollments were confirmed as unauthorized following agency and insurer review. That description does not mean every covered person knowingly committed fraud.
How can I check whether my ACA plan is still active?
Review your official Marketplace account and notices, then contact your insurance company. HealthCare.gov’s Marketplace Call Center is 1-800-318-2596.
Can I appeal if my coverage ended?
Possibly. The correct process depends on whether the decision involved Marketplace eligibility, financial assistance or an insurer’s termination. Review the notice and use official HealthCare.gov or insurer appeal instructions.
Did this action repeal the Affordable Care Act?
No. The ACA and its Marketplaces remain in operation. This was an enforcement action involving enrollments CMS says were unauthorized.
Sources and methodology
CYS relied on primary federal sources for the cancellation totals, stated rationale and consumer assistance information. Agency claims are attributed to CMS rather than presented as independently adjudicated facts.
- CMS: Federal Marketplace Anti-Fraud Actions
- CMS press release, September 22, 2026
- HealthCare.gov Marketplace contact information
- HealthCare.gov Marketplace appeals guidance
Last reviewed September 28, 2026. CYS distinguishes confirmed agency actions from estimates, allegations and unresolved individual cases.
