STAT+: Trump’s CMS to allow skimpier plans on ACA exchanges

STAT PlusInsurance Trump’s CMS to allow skimpier plans on ACA exchanges The policy will make ACA plans cheaper, but it could be harder for patients to afford care Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Tara BannowMay 18, 2026 Hospitals and Insurance Reporter Tara Bannow[email protected]Tara Bannow covers hospitals, providers, and insurers. You can reach Tara on Signal at tarabannow.70. The Trump administration is opening the floodgates for Affordable Care Act exchanges to feature plans that offer bare-bones coverage and fewer protections, but which have lower monthly premiums. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Friday finalized its proposal from February to pare back the requirements that ACA plans have to meet beginning for 2027, like offering standardized plans and restricting high-deductible, catastrophic plans to a small subset of members. Advertisement The changes are aimed at making policies cheaper, in line with President Trump’s affordability agenda, but they also fit within the conservative playbook of loosening market restrictions and consumer protections in favor of offering people the freedom to choose policies that offer less coverage. The obvious drawback, health policy experts say, is that those policies put individuals and families on the hook for potentially massive bills if they actually need care. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — and get additional analysis of the financial innards of our health care system — by subscribing to STAT+. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In CMS, Health insurance, Policy, STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints Tara Bannow Hospitals and Insurance Reporter Tara Bannow covers hospitals, providers, and insurers. You can reach Tara on Signal at tarabannow.70. Newsletter Unpacking the business — and secretive inner workings — of the U.S. health care industry Recommended Health Care Inc. Newsletter May 18, 2026 STAT Plus: Why the WakeMed – Atrium Health hospital merger matters The Readout May 18, 2026 STAT Plus: AstraZeneca picks up FDA approval for hypertension drug Advertisement The Readout May 15, 2026 STAT Plus: A political contest in the U.K. could shake up drug pricing Exclusive May 15, 2026 STAT Plus: Top U.S. officials pressured Germany to pay more for prescription drugs D.C. Diagnosis May 14, 2026 STAT Plus: The hunt for FDA’s next leader Subscriber Picks