Oz Claims Millions May Be Falsely Enrolled in ObamaCare

CMS Administrator says ACA enrollment figures are too high and likely include fraud or mistakes.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Mehmet Oz, the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), claimed in an interview that millions of people could potentially be falsely enrolled in Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans. Oz said the current enrollment figures of 23 million are too high and expects the rate to fall to around 19 million, citing concerns over fraud and mistakes in the sign-ups.

Why it matters

Oz's claims about potential fraud and over-enrollment in the ACA could undermine public confidence in the healthcare program and lead to efforts to further restrict or dismantle it, despite the ACA's importance in providing affordable coverage options for millions of Americans.

The details

Oz said some people on ACA plans should not be enrolled, either because their income did not qualify them, they made mistakes on their forms, or they were improperly enrolled in both Medicaid and the ACA. Recent government investigations have found weaknesses in the ACA Marketplace, with the Government Accountability Office approving coverage for fictitious applicants with false or no documents. However, experts say the administration's numbers on fraud are likely overstated.

  • In January 2026, early ACA enrollment figures indicated a drop from 23.6 million to 22.8 million.
  • In December 2024, the Government Accountability Office published a report finding weaknesses in the ACA Marketplace, including approving coverage for fictitious applicants.

The players

Mehmet Oz

The administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Government Accountability Office

A federal watchdog agency that has conducted investigations into fraud in the ACA Marketplace.

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What they’re saying

“In fact, the fact that we have 23 million makes me think we have too many participants in the ACA. It's too high of a number.”

— Mehmet Oz, CMS Administrator (NBC News)

“Either their income would not qualify them, they made too much or made too little, or they didn't file the forms, maybe on purpose, or they were duplicately enrolled in Medicaid or more likely other states' ACAs. These are major concerns for us.”

— Mehmet Oz, CMS Administrator (NBC News)

What’s next

The Government Accountability Office is expected to publish a full report on fraud in the ACA Marketplace in the coming months, which could provide more insight into the extent of the issue.

The takeaway

Oz's claims about potential fraud and over-enrollment in the ACA, if not backed by robust evidence, could undermine public trust in the healthcare program and lead to efforts to restrict access, despite the ACA's importance in providing affordable coverage options for millions of Americans.