BLOOMFIELD, Connecticut, April 30, 2026, 13:05 EDT
Cigna Group plans to exit the Affordable Care Act individual insurance market after 2026, which means around 369,000 members in 11 states will need to find new coverage for 2027. That’s another blow for a marketplace already grappling with cost pressures. The ACA marketplaces—commonly known as Obamacare—offer policies for people who purchase insurance independently instead of getting it through work.
Timing is key here. The departure follows the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits at the close of 2025, stripping away federal support and pushing up monthly premiums for a lot of ACA enrollees this year. According to KFF, 80% of returning marketplace shoppers saw increases in premiums, deductibles, or cost sharing for 2026. Of those, 51% described the jump as “a lot higher.” KFF
Federal enrollment numbers remain hefty—23.1 million people picked or were automatically renewed into exchange plans for 2026, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Bronze plans gained ground; silver plans slipped. That shift points to more shoppers opting for leaner coverage to trim their premiums.
Cigna isn’t alone in stepping back. CVS Health’s Aetna earlier pulled out of selling ACA individual plans for 2026, impacting roughly 1 million members across 17 states. That’s the second time in ten years Aetna has exited the ACA market.
Cigna president and COO Brian Evanko said there’s no “clear path to scale this business” within Cigna’s overall portfolio. He also said the move won’t affect coverage or networks for 2026, and added that Cigna will assist members through open enrollment for 2027. Managed Healthcare Executive
Cigna is offering individual and family plans in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia for 2026. According to the company’s customer page, open enrollment for 2027 kicks off Nov. 1, 2026. Still, Cigna expects to exit the ACA medical plan business before that date.
The retreat came as Cigna delivered a stronger-than-expected first quarter. Revenue reached $68.5 billion, with net income at $1.7 billion. Adjusted income from operations hit $2.1 billion, or $7.79 per share. The company also bumped up its 2026 adjusted earnings forecast to at least $30.35 per share. Bernstein’s Lance Wilkes described the period as a “solid quarter,” highlighting disciplined healthcare pricing and pharmacy benefit management margins that were a bit better than anticipated. PR Newswire
Evanko, preparing to step in as Cigna’s chief executive July 1, has been reshaping the company’s portfolio—this latest move is part of that effort. Cigna is doubling down on employer-sponsored insurance and Evernorth, its health-services division, which houses pharmacy benefit management—negotiating drug prices and coverage for clients. The company is also weighing options for EviCore, the medical review business, according to Healthcare Dive.
Cigna pulling out could end up being more than just a blip. Wakely Consulting Group has flagged a possible 17% to 26% fall in 2026 ACA enrollment from 2025, warning that healthier enrollees are the ones most likely to leave, while those who are sicker stay on. That tips the risk pool, making the job of setting 2027 prices even tougher for insurers left in the market.
Cigna slipped less than 1% to $291.46 in New York, with shares barely budging. Investors seemed to treat the ACA exit as housekeeping, not a shift in Cigna’s key earnings narrative.
