The impact of brokers on ACA marketplace growth

Abstract

Brokers are an under‐studied channel of enrollment in the affordable care act (ACA), having grown to support nearly 80% of active federally facilitated marketplace (FFM) enrollment during the 2024 Open Enrollment Period. Brokers enroll a disproportionately low‐income and new‐to‐market consumer base compared to the core exchange websites, and have contributed to the record‐breaking growth in the ACA Marketplace in recent years. Understanding the role brokers play and the technological and policy changes that have enabled their work may help state‐based marketplaces improve stagnant enrollment growth.