Cynthia Cox

The latest data shows 22.8 million people picked a plan or auto-renewed during open enrollment so far, a 3% drop from the year before.

That's despite the fact that premium costs are double on average compared to last year, and Congress hasn't been able to make a deal to bring back enhanced subsidies.

Cynthia Cox is with the health research organization KFF.

Some people are having this lingering hope that there might be a deal in Congress, but if nothing comes along...

then they might not be able to continue to afford their coverage and might drop it.

Bipartisan talks in the Senate have slowed, but Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska hasn't given up.

I don't think it is too late to salvage something.

Selina Simmons-Duffin, NPR News, Washington.

What it seems like is this idea of

turning the financial assistance that's available for Obamacare enrollees into essentially cash that they might be able to use to buy health insurance that is not compliant with the Affordable Care Act.

What it seems like is this idea of turning the financial assistance that's available for Obamacare enrollees into essentially cash.

that they might be able to use to buy health insurance that is not compliant with the Affordable Care Act.

By definition, ACA marketplaces are an option of last resort.

at least for someone who wants comprehensive major medical health insurance.

In order to get these subsidies, people already cannot be eligible for employer coverage.

They can't be eligible for Medicaid or Medicare.

A hospital visit in the United States costs more.

A doctor's visit costs more.

The same prescription drug costs more.

We have slightly fewer doctor's visits and slightly shorter hospital stays than people in similarly large and wealthy countries do.