Federal Policy
CMS Halts ACA Broker Registrations for 2027, Terminates 760,000 Enrollments
CMS announced Tuesday it is freezing new broker registrations for the 2027 marketplace open enrollment period and terminating coverage for more than 760,000 individuals the agency has identified as unauthorized enrollees. The broker registration pause aims to reduce fraud in the exchanges; the agency did not specify which populations or enrollment circumstances triggered the coverage terminations. The registration freeze affects brokers seeking new marketplace access for plan year 2027. The actions reflect heightened federal scrutiny of marketplace enrollment integrity following reports of unauthorized sign-ups and agent misconduct in certain states.
Why it mattersThe coverage terminations will force hundreds of thousands back into uninsured status or onto state Medicaid programs if income-eligible, creating immediate enrollment and continuity-of-care challenges for state agencies and managed care plans operating in dual-eligible and near-Medicaid populations.