Thousands of Washingtonians have opted out of buying their own health insurance this year after monthly premiums spiked for middle-income households. In 2026, approximately 250,000 Washington residents enrolled in a health plan through the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, which runs the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace. Compared with last year, that’s a decrease of almost 13%, according to a new report published by the state exchange. That translates to 36,500 fewer enrollees across the state — an unprecedented decline. “This is the sharpest drop we’ve seen since the exchange was established,” said Tara Lee, chief communications officer for the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. The exchange was launched in 2012 after the passage of the ACA in 2010. The law created a regulated system through which people can buy their own insurance if they don’t get coverage through an employer or public programs.…