Open Enrollment Under The Affordable Care Act Is Underway
It’s that time of year again! Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act is officially underway, which means consumers can once again shop for health care coverage through the federal health insurance marketplace. Open enrollment started over the weekend and runs through January 31st. For coverage that starts January 1st, the deadline to enroll is December 15th.
More than 9 million Americans are already benefiting from having quality, affordable health insurance through the federal and state marketplace and that number is expected to increase to 10 million by the end of next year. And the good news doesn’t stop there: more than 80 percent of people who signed up through HealthCare.gov receive financial assistance to make their monthly premiums more affordable. In fact, most people’s premiums are $75 or less a month. Already insured through HealthCare.gov? Call or go online to renew your plan, and take the opportunity during open enrollment to shop around and make sure your current plan is still the best fit for your needs and your budget.
Millions of Americans have already seen the benefits of the Affordable Care Act, and many more stand to benefit from this open enrollment period. Unfortunately, the fight to make sure every American sees the benefits of the Affordable Care Act remains a struggle. After two Supreme Court cases, more than 50 repeal votes, and years of partisan fighting, Medicaid expansion remains a struggle in many Republican-controlled states.
Yesterday, Montana officially became the 30th state to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, bringing 70,000 Montanans out of the coverage gap. But today’s statewide elections in Kentucky threaten Medicaid in the Bluegrass state. The state saw the steepest drop in the uninsured rate thanks to the Affordable Care Act. And around half a million people, or a quarter of the state’s population got health care coverage after outgoing democratic Governor Steve Beshear expanded Medicaid through an executive order. But now the GOP gubernatorial candidate has threatened to repeal Medicaid expansion, putting hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians back in the coverage gap. If you need another reason to get out and vote today, read this.
BOTTOM LINE: Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, the uninsured rate is at a historic low. It’s time to build on that success and make sure every American has access to quality, affordable health insurance. Visit www.healthcare.gov to renew your existing plan or shop around for a new plan that fits your needs and your budget.
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