CVS Health Is Leaving the ACA Marketplace—Here’s What That Means for You
In a major shake-up to the health insurance landscape, CVS Health announced it will exit the individual health insurance market—commonly known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or “Obamacare”—starting in 2026. This decision directly impacts around 1 million people currently enrolled in Aetna ACA plans across 17 states.
The news broke alongside CVS’s first-quarter earnings report, which showed a hefty $1.8 billion in net income. While this sounds like a financial win, the company is in the middle of a strategic pivot, especially when it comes to controlling rising healthcare costs in its Aetna insurance business.
So why the exit? According to CVS, it’s part of a broader plan to “refocus the company’s portfolio.” In simple terms, they’re pulling back from areas where they’re less competitive—in this case, the ACA exchanges—to double down on other parts of the business where they believe they can offer stronger care and more stability.
Here’s what CVS had to say:
