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Jimmy Williams
In a record-breaking year, approximately 20 million people have enrolled in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces, according to an announcement by the Biden administration.
This figure represents a 25% increase compared to the previous year when 16.3 million individuals enrolled. The announcement comes just days before the closure of the open enrollment period on January 16.
President Joe Biden is expected to highlight these enrollment figures as a significant achievement on the campaign trail, especially as former President Donald Trump, a Republican front-runner, expresses intentions to dismantle the ACA.
The surge in sign-ups followed Biden’s inauguration, coinciding with Democrats implementing tax breaks that expanded access to low-cost plans, including some with zero-dollar premiums. President Biden emphasized the need to build on this progress and make lower health care premiums a permanent feature.
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra attributed the heightened interest in coverage to an aggressive campaign to encourage enrollment. The administration collaborated with nonprofits across the country, focusing efforts on communities with predominantly Black and Latino populations. Investments were made to hire navigators who assist individuals in the enrollment process.
However, the increased enrollment has not been without challenges. Some new enrollees turned to the marketplace after being removed from Medicaid, a nearly free health care coverage for the poorest Americans or those with disabilities. Health plans purchased through the marketplace may have higher premiums and copays compared to Medicaid coverage.
Approximately 14.5 million Americans were recently removed from Medicaid after the federal government lifted a three-year ban that prevented states from removing ineligible individuals. This process, initiated last year, has been marked by errors, leading to thousands of children and pregnant women mistakenly losing health insurance coverage in certain states.
While celebrating the enrollment milestone, the Biden administration faces opposition from Trump, who regularly threatens to undo the work on the ACA. Trump has criticized the ACA, commonly known as Obamacare, as a catastrophe and continues to advocate for its repeal.
Although the open enrollment period for ACA health insurance plans concludes on January 16, individuals removed from Medicaid may still be eligible to enroll through the end of July.
