Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
ACA Sign-Ups Exceed 1 Million So Far During Special Enrollment
The Hill: Biden Announces 1 Million Have Enrolled In Special ObamaCare Sign-Up Period
President Biden announced on Tuesday that one million people have enrolled so far in Affordable Care Act coverage during a special sign-up period his administration created. Biden reopened ObamaCare enrollment upon taking office in January, a step that the Trump administration had declined to take after the COVID-19 pandemic began. (Sullivan, 5/11)
CNN: ACA: 1 Million People Sign Up For Coverage After Biden Reopens Exchange
One million people have signed up for Affordable Care Act coverage on the federal exchange during the special enrollment period that President Joe Biden launched in mid-February, the administration announced Tuesday. "Since it became law more than a decade ago, the Affordable Care Act has been a lifeline for millions of Americans. The pandemic has demonstrated how badly it is needed, and how critical it is that we continue to improve upon it," Biden said. "Through this opportunity for special enrollment, we have made enormous progress in expanding access to health insurance." (Luhby, 5/11)
Fox Business: Biden Says 1 Million Americans Signed Up For Health Coverage During Special Enrollment
President Biden announced Tuesday that one million Americans signed up for health insurance through HealthCare.gov during a special enrollment period that started on Feb. 15. The White House issued a statement that also credited Biden’s American Rescue Plan for lowering insurance premiums for nine million Americans. "This milestone reinforces what we know to be true, there is a real demand for quality, affordable health care across the United States," Biden said. The opportunity to sign up for the Affordable Care Act plans will be available until Aug. 15. (DeMarche, 5/11)
And prices have dropped —
Yahoo Finance: Considering An Obamacare Plan? Premiums Have Fallen 25% Since February
Since the American Rescue Plan was passed in March, premiums have tumbled significantly. New insurance enrollees registering for a plan from Feb. 15 to March could expect to pay monthly premiums of $117.But once April hit and the tax credits were factored in, premiums dropped to $86, according to HHS. (Forberg, 5/10)
And in insurance news from Kansas —
The Topeka Capital-Journal: Legislature Passes Expansion Of Short-Term Health Insurance
Kansas lawmakers on Friday passed out Senate Bill 29, which could potentially expand usage of short-term health insurance plans. "Short-term limited duration" insurance policies are intended as stop-gap measures, intended to provide low-cost insurance for folks in between jobs or nearing retirement. Due to this nature, short-term plans also provide less coverage than normal health insurance. Currently in Kansas, such plans can only last either six or 12 months with one renewal allowed. (Wu, 5/10)
