The open enrollment period for Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance plans commenced on November 1 and will run until January 15, 2025. This enrollment period, which had been reduced during the Trump administration and saw significant cuts in funding for assistance, will allow more than 21 million Americans to purchase their health insurance through ACA markets. Individuals can explore options on Healthcare.gov and various state-based marketplaces, such as Georgia Access and Covered California.
Premiums remain highly affordable this year, with many individuals paying $10 or less per month, and there is a wider array of plan options available than in previous years. According to Cynthia Cox, Director of the Program on the Affordable Care Act for KFF, this situation signifies a significant improvement in the ACA marketplaces. The availability of low premiums and diverse plan options has contributed to record-high enrollment numbers for ACA plans. The marketplaces’ growing enrollment has led to a notable reduction in the number of uninsured Americans, even though most Americans receive their insurance through employment or programs like Medicaid or Medicare.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra highlighted that under the current administration, more Americans have access to healthcare through insurance than ever before, and he anticipates another record high in health coverage following this enrollment period. However, the future of such enrollment numbers could fluctuate based on political leadership and decisions regarding the continuation of federal subsidies that have kept these plans affordable.
A significant update in eligibility includes Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, allowing an estimated 100,000 Dreamers access to these subsidized marketplace plans. Secretary Becerra noted that this change provides coverage opportunities for individuals who have been paying taxes without access to Affordable Care Act coverage.
One DACA recipient, Camila Bortolleto, who is currently uninsured due to her previous job ending, plans to enroll in a health insurance plan as soon as open enrollment began. Additionally, changes for 2025 will enable low-income individuals to enroll in marketplace health plans any time during the year and not just during the fall open enrollment. New regulations will also address the duration patients must wait for appointments, aiming to ensure that having health insurance equates to tangible access to healthcare services, as detailed by Cynthia Cox.
The upcoming presidential election holds potential implications for these health plans. While health policy has not dominated the campaign agendas, the results could influence the future direction of ACA marketplaces. Former President Donald Trump mentioned possessing “concepts of a plan” to potentially replace the ACA, whereas Vice President Harris advocates for maintaining and enhancing it. The composition of the next Congress will also be crucial, as it could determine whether the additional subsidies that have kept premiums affordable are extended or made permanent.
Enrollment remains open until January 15 in most states, with a deadline of December 15 for coverage starting January 1, 2025. Idaho operates on a different schedule, from October 15 to December 15. Seventeen states have their own health insurance marketplaces, but individuals can begin their enrollment process at HealthCare.gov to identify state-specific options.
