13.6 million people now covered by ACA plans, with a month to go

Photo courtesy of Healthcare.gov

The open enrollment period in 2021 is outpacing all previous years in terms of enrollment, with a historic high of more than 13.6 million people already enrolled in health insurance coverage for 2022 through HealthCare.gov and state-based marketplaces through the Affordable Care Act, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

HHS attributes this number to the American Rescue Plan, saying it has made coverage more affordable and accessible. According to the agency, 92% of people in HealthCare.gov states who signed up for plans through December 15 will receive premium tax credits for 2022 coverage. And more than 400,000 people will receive tax credits for 2022 coverage, to date, that would have been inaccessible to them prior to the ARP.

More than 4.6 million Americans have gained health coverage since January, HHS said.

WHAT'S THE IMPACT

From the start of open enrollment through December 15, more than 9.7 million consumers enrolled in marketplace coverage in the 33 states using HealthCare.gov for 2022. This is roughly 900,000 more people than the previous all-time high of 8.8 million who signed up during the 2018 open enrollment period, with 39 states using HealthCare.gov. 

The 18 state-based marketplaces that use their own platforms reported to The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that through December 11 (week six), almost 3.9 million consumers selected plans or were automatically re-enrolled in a plan for 2022 health coverage. This is up from last year, when SBMs reported that 3.4 million consumers made a plan selection in the 15 State-based marketplaces for 2021, through week six.

Partly to thank, said HHS, is the 2021 special enrollment period. Between the SEP earlier this year and open enrollment, more than 4.6 million people across the country gained coverage. That includes 3.7 million through HealthCare.gov and the more than 950,000 people who got coverage through the state-based marketplaces during the special enrollment period.

In all, 213 issuers are offering coverage through HealthCare.gov, an increase of 32 issuers compared to the 2021 plan year. The average consumer now has between six and seven issuers to choose from, up from four to five issuers in 2021.

The administration is also touting the ARP's enhanced financial assistance. Currently there are more than 1,500 certified Navigators ready to help consumers enroll in various communities. For example, Navigators in Kansas recently attended a fall festival and movie night hosted by the local Boys and Girls Club and handed out educational information about open enrollment, answered questions from consumers, and scheduled appointments for enrollment assistance. In addition, more than 2,600 community organizations, called Champions for Coverage, are encouraging people to sign up for coverage.

Consumers still have time to enroll. The administration extended this year's HealthCare.gov open enrollment period until January 15, 2022, for coverage starting on February 1, 2022, giving consumers an extra month to enroll.

THE LARGER TREND

CMS extended the open enrollment period back in September, saying in part it wanted to reduce health disparities in various communities nationwide. That's where the Navigators come in, as they're tasked with providing consumers with information and assistance on certain post-enrollment topics, such as the marketplace eligibility appeals process and marketplace-related components of premium tax credit reconciliation.

CMS also enacted what it called modest increases to marketplace issuer fee rates, with the goal of enhanced outreach and engagement. All 2022 marketplace user fee rates remain lower than those for 2021, which the agency expects will keep premiums low.

On top of that, four times as many Navigators – 1,500 in all – are available for consumers who use HealthCare.gov for the 2022 plan year thanks to $80 million in grant funding provided earlier this year by CMS.

ON THE RECORD

"The historic 13.6 million people who have enrolled in a health insurance plan so far this period shows that the demand and need for affordable health care remains high," said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. "Thanks to President Biden's American Rescue Plan, more people today have affordable coverage – and we aren't finished yet: People still have time to sign-up and get covered before the January 15th deadline. This holiday season, let's share the peace of mind that comes with having coverage."

"The American Rescue Plan is working to get people across the country connected to health insurance coverage," said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. "Health coverage is more affordable than ever before and the great news is that people still have until January 15 to sign up. The pandemic has made the need for healthcare coverage clear and the Biden-Harris Administration has put it in reach of millions of people who previously did not have that peace of mind."
 

Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: jeff.lagasse@himssmedia.com