A record 19 million Americans are expected to purchase individual coverage also known as Obamacare via the health insurance marketplace under the Affordable Care Act for the 2024 coverage year.
The Biden administration Wednesday said more than 15.3 million Americans have already have signed up for health insurance marketplace plans in states that use HealthCare.gov, which is a 33% increase compared to this time a year ago.
“As of December 15, 2023, for HealthCare.gov states and December 9, 2023, for State-based Marketplaces, preliminary data projects that over 19 million consumers will enroll in 2024 coverage through the ACA Marketplaces — over 7 million more than when President Biden took office,” the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said Wednesday. “This includes 15.3 million individuals who have selected a health plan using the HealthCare.gov platform. On December 15 alone, the deadline for coverage starting January 1, 2024, more than 745,000 people selected a Marketplace plan through HealthCare.gov — the largest single day in history.”
The record enrollment comes with such coverage becoming integral to Americans, having been offered on exchanges now for a decade with most of the enrollment coming from those renewing coverage.
But the success and growth of individual coverage under the ACA hasn’t stopped former President Donald Trump from wanting to resurrect his past attempts — which failed several times – to get rid of the health law. In the last month, Trump has said he would reopen the fight over the ACA, saying he was “seriously looking at alternatives” if he wins a second term. When Trump was in office from 2017 to 2021 and Republicans were criticized because they didn’t have a replacement plan.
“The Marketplace clearly meets an important need in Americans’ lives, making access to health care possible for adults and their children,” CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said. “The Affordable Care Act connects more people to preventive and life-saving care, helping more people and their families live the American dream. We look forward to continuing to get people enrolled ahead of the January 16 deadline.”
Read the full article here
