LEGISLATORS PUSHING FOR HEALTHCARE COVERAGE RESPOND TO NEW PENNIE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS

The following information was released by Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Democratic Caucus:

Over 200,000 people disenrolled from health insurance due to federal inaction

September 10, 2026 | 9:56 AM

HARRISBURG, Sept. 10 Following the release of new enrollment numbers under PENNIE, Pennsylvanias health insurance marketplace, which show significant disenrollments to date in 2026, state Reps. Jen Mazzocco, Arvind Venkat and Steve Samuelson are calling for action on their legislation to increase affordable healthcare coverage in the state.

As of September 2026, 417,000 people are enrolled in PENNIE. In the last nine months, following federal inaction to renew enhanced premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act, 202,000 people disenrolled. From 2021 to 2025, PENNIE enrollment grew by 150,000, and now net enrollment is down more than 75,000.

The legislators introduced H.B. 2550, legislation that would create a state tax credit for small businesses that contribute to their employees health coverage. The bill passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support and awaits consideration in the Senate Finance Committee.

Its disheartening to see even more Pennsylvanians losing their health insurance, said Mazzocco, prime sponsor of the legislation. No one in the commonwealth should have to disregard their well-being for financial reasons. I will continue to work alongside my colleagues to make quality affordable healthcare accessible to all and reverse this discouraging enrollment trend.

Venkat, a board member of PENNIE and the General Assemblys only elected physician, expressed his concern with these enrollment numbers and urged the Senate to act on H.B. 2550.

These extremely high disenrollment numbers have one clear cause the federal governments inaction to protect the healthcare of Pennsylvanians and Americans, Venkat said. As an emergency physician, I have seen how access to affordable health insurance can make the difference in whether someone seeks coverage for an illness, which can have life or death ramifications.

Where federal action is insufficient, it is critical that we act on the state level, which the House has already done. Now, it is the Senates turn to support the hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians who have lost coverage.

It's imperative that our U.S. representatives do their job by reinstating the healthcare credits, said Samuelson, chair of the House Finance Committee. Meantime, the PA House has responded to offer relief through tax credits to small businesses, and it's now up to our state Senate to do their part and pass the bill to protect Pennsylvanians healthcare."