The Joe Biden administration has reopened the option for the American public to sign up for government-subsidised health insurance.
An executive order that Biden signed gives millions who
lost insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic the opportunity to enroll online at
HealthCare.gov.
The special enrollment period runs up to May 15.
In accordance with the Executive Order, the Centres for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the Special Enrollment
Period for the Health Insurance Marketplace will be available to consumers in
the 36 states that use the HealthCare.gov platform.
At least 13 States and the District of Columbia, which
operate their own Marketplace platforms, have decided to offer a similar
opportunity.
CMS said that individuals and families who are
uninsured can take this opportunity to look for coverage and find out if they
qualify for financial assistance to help pay for health insurance.
Currently nine out of 10 consumers enrolled in coverage
through HealthCare.gov receive financial help and 75 per cent of consumers can
purchase a plan for 50 dollars or less per month after financial assistance.
In addition, all of the plans at HealthCare.gov cover
essential health benefits, such as primary care visits, and cover many
preventive care services with no out-of-pocket costs to the consumer.
“We need to strengthen the Affordable Care Act and give
more Americans access to health care, especially during this pandemic”, Biden
said in a statement.
HHS Acting Secretary Norris Cochran said that CMS
intends to release data on consumer activities during the SEP for each month as
consumers apply and enroll in coverage.
The first report is anticipated in early March, which
will cover consumers who applied and enrolled through SEP in February and have
coverage starting March 1.
CMS intends to release a monthly report for February,
March, and April, and then a final report after May 15 covering the full
period.
Consumers who want to access the SEP to enroll in
coverage and see if they qualify for financial help to reduce the cost of
monthly premiums can visit HealthCare.gov or CuidadoDeSalud.gov to view 2021
plans and prices and enroll in a plan that best meets their needs, the Centres
for Medicare & Medicaid Services said in a statement.
(dpa/NAN)
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