HHS Says A Record Number of Americans Signed Up for ACA Insurance

December 22, 2021 by Dan McCue
HHS Says A Record Number of Americans Signed Up for ACA Insurance
The healthcare.gov website is seen, Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021 in Fort Washington, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON — A record 13.6 million Americans have already signed up for health coverage on the Affordable Care Act insurance marketplaces with a month left to go in the open enrollment period, the Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday.

Under the terms of the American Rescue Plan Act President Joe Biden signed into law last spring, 92% of those who signed up for plans through HealthCare.gov and state-based marketplaces by Dec. 15 will receive premium tax credits for 2022 coverage.

“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 Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra in a written statement. “And we aren’t finished yet: people still have time to sign-up and get covered before the Jan. 15 deadline.”

According to HHS, since Biden took office in January 2021, more than 4.6 million Americans have newly gained health care coverage.

Since the start of open enrollment on Nov. 1, more than 9.7 million consumers enrolled in marketplace coverage in the 33 states using HealthCare.gov, the department said. 

This is over 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 Dec. 11, 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 state-based marketplaces reported that 3.4 million consumers made a plan selection in the 15 state-based marketplaces through the sixth week of open enrollment in 2021.

Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said the coronavirus pandemic is likely driving the accelerated pace of enrollments, inspiring more Americans to seek peace of mind about their health care coverage.

The current open enrollment period ends on Jan. 15 for coverage starting Feb. 1, 2022.

Consumers still wishing to enroll may do so by visiting HealthCare.gov and CuidadoDeSalud.gov or calling 1-800-318-2596. 

To find local help, consumers should go to https://localhelp.healthcare.gov. 

Consumers in states with state-based marketplace are advised to visit their marketplace for additional information on coverage deadlines.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and at https://twitter.com/DanMcCue.

A+
a-
  • Affordable Care Act
  • American Rescue Plan
  • Department of Health and Human Services
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    Health

    Biden Announcing New Rule to Protect Consumers Who Purchase Short-Term Health Insurance Plans

    President Joe Biden on Thursday announced new steps to protect consumers who buy short-term health insurance plans that critics say amount to junk. A... Read More

    President Joe Biden on Thursday announced new steps to protect consumers who buy short-term health insurance plans that critics say amount to junk. A new rule finalized by the Democratic president's administration will limit these plans to just three months. And the plans can only be renewed for a maximum... Read More

    March 27, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    One-Time Treatment Could Revitalize Immune Systems in the Elderly

    PALO ALTO, Calif. — A new study suggests that a one-time treatment that modulates the composition of a type of... Read More

    PALO ALTO, Calif. — A new study suggests that a one-time treatment that modulates the composition of a type of immune cell could potentially revitalize the immune systems of the elderly, helping their bodies better react to viral and bacterial threats. The research was carried out... Read More

    March 27, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Insurers to Expand Access to ‘Navigation Services’ for Cancer Patients

    WASHINGTON — Seven of the nation’s largest health insurance companies are expanding access to so-called “navigation services” to help patients... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Seven of the nation’s largest health insurance companies are expanding access to so-called “navigation services” to help patients and their families navigate the myriad challenges that might arise during treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses. The insurers involved are Aetna; Blue Cross Blue... Read More

    Five Takeaways From the Abortion Pill Case Before US Supreme Court

    WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Supreme Court justices on Tuesday did not appear ready to limit access to the abortion pill mifepristone,... Read More

    WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Supreme Court justices on Tuesday did not appear ready to limit access to the abortion pill mifepristone, in a case that could have far-reaching implications for millions of American women and for scores of drugs regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. It's... Read More

    Biden and Harris Argue Democrats Will Preserve Health Care and Republicans Would Take It Away

    RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday promoted their health care agenda in... Read More

    RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday promoted their health care agenda in the battleground state of North Carolina, arguing that Democrats like themselves would preserve access to care while Republicans would reverse gains made over the past decade... Read More

    March 26, 2024
    by Tom Ramstack
    Supreme Court Skeptical of Ban on Abortion Pill Mifepristone

    WASHINGTON — A hearing Tuesday before the Supreme Court indicated a majority of the justices want to maintain women’s access... Read More

    WASHINGTON — A hearing Tuesday before the Supreme Court indicated a majority of the justices want to maintain women’s access to the abortion pill mifepristone despite objections from anti-abortion activists. The doctors and organizations who sued argued the Food and Drug Administration was wrong in granting... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top