Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Enrollment In ACA Plans Hits Record High
The Hill: ObamaCare Open Enrollment Hits Record Numbers
A record 13.6 million people have enrolled in health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act to date, with another month left before open enrollment ends, Biden administration officials said Wednesday. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), more than 9.7 million Americans enrolled in coverage in the 33 states using HealthCare.gov for 2022 from the start of open enrollment through Dec. 15. (Weixel, 12/22)
KHN: Record Number Of Americans Sign Up For ACA Health Insurance
President Joe Biden’s top health advisers credited the increased government subsidies, which lowered out-of-pocket costs, for the surge in enrollment. They also said enhanced personal assistance and outreach helped connect more people to health insurance plans. Some of the largest increases are in Florida, Texas, Georgia and nine other states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. (Galewitz and Miller, 12/23)
The New York Times: On More Generous Terms, Obamacare Proves Newly Popular
Federal health officials said enrollment gains were most pronounced in states that had not expanded their Medicaid programs. Enrollment in Georgia grew by a third from last year, and enrollment in Texas increased by more than a quarter. The Build Back Better package would also create new insurance options for poorer residents of those states. Laura Colbert, the executive director of Georgians for a Healthy Future, a consumer advocacy group that also helps sign Georgians up for coverage, said the big enrollment boost this year came thanks to increased subsidies and advertising — but also a new state reinsurance program that helped lower premiums and attract more insurers into the state’s marketplace. She, too, worries about what will happen if the subsidies expire. (Sanger-Katz, 12/22)
CNN: Obamacare Is On Pace For Record Enrollment. Here's Why - CNN Video
The Affordable Care Act is on pace to set a record for enrollment in 2022. CNN's Gabe Cohen looks at some of the reasons why. (12/23)
In other news —
CNBC: You May Have Just A Short Time Left To Spend Your FSA Money
If you still have money in your flexible spending account, be aware that you may have only another week or so to spend it. Congressional action loosened FSA rules for 2020 and 2021 as a way to give workers more time to spend unused funds, yet many companies did not adopt the temporary changes. This means you could face a Dec. 31 deadline to use any remaining money or lose it. (O'Brien, 12/22)
