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NewsThe Trump administration is targeting duplicate health coverage enrollments to cut costs. CMS has identified 189,000 people simultaneously enrolled in ACA exchange plans and Medicaid, Medicare, or CHIP — and has pulled their ACA subsidies. The agency estimates addressing these overlaps could save taxpayers $1.5 billion over the next year.
The Trump administration is ramping up its crackdown on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal health programs — and CMS has some early numbers to show for it. The agency announced it has identified 189,000 individuals enrolled in both ACA exchange plans and duplicative Medicaid, Medicare, or CHIP coverage this year alone, and has moved to strip their ACA subsidies. CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz clarified: "No one is losing insurance coverage based on what's happening today. What we are doing is saving a lot of money."
The process works through periodic data-matching protocols required under federal regulation. If a duplicate enrollment is flagged, the individual is notified and given 30 days to dispute the finding before subsidies are removed — with an appeals option available. CMS reinstated these checks at the end of 2025 (they were paused during the Biden administration's COVID-era continuous coverage rules), and that effort already eliminated subsidies for ~551,000 people.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Duplicate enrollments drain federal health program funds intended for vulnerable Americans. By tightening data-matching protocols, CMS aims to redirect billions in misspent subsidies — though eligible enrollees will need to stay alert to ensure they aren't wrongly flagged in the process.