{"id":2651860,"date":"2026-08-30T07:31:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-30T11:31:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/obamacare-improper-enrollment-cost-us-taxpayers-65-billion-in-just-1-year-report\/"},"modified":"2026-08-30T07:40:03","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T11:40:03","slug":"obamacare-improper-enrollment-cost-us-taxpayers-65-billion-in-just-1-year-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/obamacare-improper-enrollment-cost-us-taxpayers-65-billion-in-just-1-year-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Obamacare Improper Enrollment Cost US Taxpayers $65 Billion in Just 1 Year: Report"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fobamacare-improper-enrollment-cost-us-taxpayers-65-billion-in-just-1-year-report%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2651860&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article reports that improper enrollment in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges and Medicaid in 2024 led to significant financial waste, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-blast-biden-for-ignoring-border-crisis\/\" title=\"Republicans Blast Biden for Ignoring Border Crisis\">costing american taxpayers<\/a> around $65 billion. According to a Paragon Health Institute analysis,an estimated 14.3 million individuals-about 34% of total ACA enrollees-were ineligible, with improper enrollment rates increasing by over 26% from 2024 to 2025, reaching approximately 6.5 million enrollees. The report emphasizes that this level of improper enrollment indicates systemic issues within the program,driven by incentives that encourage enrollment without adequate verification of eligibility. Additional studies suggest nearly 27% of ACA sign-ups in 2026 were improper, with taxpayers perhaps paying up to $25 billion in inappropriate subsidies in that year. The article also touches on rising healthcare costs, with premiums expected to increase substantially in 2027, and criticizes efforts to reform or criticize the ACA, describing it as &#8220;the Unaffordable Care Act&#8221; that has failed to deliver promised cost reductions or improved care.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Improper enrollment across Affordable Care Act exchanges cost American taxpayers billions of dollars in 2024, according to a Paragon Health Institute analysis released Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">Combining Paragon\u2019s previous estimates of improper exchange enrollment and Medicaid expansion enrollment suggests that 14.3 million individuals enrolled in these programs in 2024, or 34% of total ACA enrollees, were actually ineligible, <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/paragoninstitute.org\/paragon-prognosis\/obamacare-enrollment-abuse-update-65-billion-cost-in-2024\/\">according<\/a> to the report. The analysis also projects that improper enrollment across the two ACA programs cost the federal government approximately $65 billion in 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">Moreover, improper exchange enrollment rose by over 26% from 2024 to 2025, up to an estimated 6.5 million total enrollees, according to Paragon.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe combined $65 billion cost shows that improper enrollment is not a trivial administrative error,\u201d Paragon\u2019s report states. \u201cIt is the predictable result of programs that reward enrollment while weakening incentives to verify eligibility. Until policymakers change those incentives, improper enrollment will persist in both the ACA exchanges and Medicaid expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">A separate Paragon <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/edge.prnewswire.com\/c\/link\/?t=0&#038;l=en&#038;o=4702620-1&#038;h=467223718&#038;u=https%3A%2F%2Fparagoninstitute.org%2Fprivate-health%2Fthe-persistent-obamacare-enrollment-fraud%2F&#038;a=new+study\">study<\/a> released in June claimed that almost 27% of all ACA exchange sign-ups were improper in 2026. It also projects taxpayers will pay up to $25 billion in improper subsidies this year, nearly a quarter of total projected ACA subsidy spending for the year.<\/p>\n<p>A KFF analysis published in July found that Obamacare health insurance premiums are likely to rise by double digits again in 2027. Many Republican lawmakers have <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ByronDonalds\/status\/1976070514809659491\">previously<\/a> <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"http:\/\/fedorchak.house.gov\/media\/op-eds-and-speeches\/time-fix-unaffordable-care-act\">criticized<\/a> Obamacare, <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenEricSchmitt\/status\/1998851967142211955\">claiming<\/a> it has caused healthcare costs across the U.S. to soar.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">House Speaker Mike Johnson notably referred to the ACA as \u201cthe Unaffordable Care Act\u201d in a Dec. 18, 2025 <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SpeakerJohnson\/status\/2001736829783900176\">statement<\/a> posted to X.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">\u201cFifteen years ago, Democrats promised the American people that Obamacare, aka the Unaffordable Care Act, would lower costs, improve care, and let patients keep their doctors,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cIt was a LIE. Now we know the truth: that Americans are worse off, and the Unaffordable Care Act has failed.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimer\">\n<p>All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter\u2019s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact <a href=\"http:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/mailto:licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org\">licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]] = document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display = 'block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src = firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id'] = firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting = jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display = 'block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Improper ACA enrollment cost U.S. taxpayers billions in 2024, says Paragon<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2651861,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/IMG_2049.jpeg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[63701,84872,12589,84871],"class_list":["post-2651860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-healthcare-fraud","tag-insurance-enrollment","tag-obamacare","tag-taxpayer-waste"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/IMG_2049.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2651860","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2651860"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2651860\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2651865,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2651860\/revisions\/2651865"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2651861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2651860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2651860"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2651860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}