As Nearly 5.5 Million Americans Register for ACA Coverage, Encouraging Those Planning to Enroll to do so Before December 15th

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2022
PRESS CONTACT
Ben Cook
ben.cook@firesidecampaigns.com

As Nearly 5.5 Million Americans Register for ACA Coverage, Health Care Voices Founder Laura Packard Encourages Those Planning to Enroll to do so Before December 15th

Americans must enroll in ACA health coverage before December 15th for their coverage to start on January 1, 2023.

DENVER — Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Open Enrollment period began on November 1st, nearly 5.5 million Americans have enrolled in health insurance through the ACA marketplace, representing an 18 percent increase over last year. About 1.2 million of them are new enrollees. As we near the halfway point of Open Enrollment, those who have yet to enroll must register by Thursday, December 15th to ensure that their coverage begins on January 1, 2023. If they miss that deadline, Americans can still enroll from December 15th through January 15, 2023 for coverage beginning on February 1, 2023.

As the Open Enrollment period continues, Health Care Voices Founder and Affordable Care Act Advocate Laura Packard encourages Americans to get covered:

“The incredible numbers reported so far during this Open Enrollment period are exciting, and indicate that many more Americans not currently covered by the ACA will have affordable health insurance at the start of next year. However, the December 15th deadline is approaching. Those who have yet to select their plans should make sure to do so in time for their coverage to begin on January 1, 2023.

“As the Open Enrollment period continues, those with questions on how to choose the best plan for themselves and their families can watch Care Talk on act.tv every Monday at 4:30pm ET or listen to the Care Talk podcast to learn more about the ACA, as well as Medicare, Medicaid and any health care concerns.”

As December 15th approaches, Laura reiterates her five key points for making the most of the Open Enrollment period:

  • A record 14.5 million people have already enrolled in health insurance coverage for 2023, a rise that analysts attribute to President Joe Biden and Congress passing the American Rescue Plan and the new Inflation Reduction Act, resulting in more middle and working class families than ever before being able to afford life-saving care.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the greatest health insurance losses in American history. The Open Enrollment period for healthcare.gov begins on November 1, but you must enroll by January 15 for coverage. Sign up now before the enrollment period ends!
  • Free help is available to figure out the best options for your family and your situation. If you have questions about signing up, or want to talk through your options with a trained professional, free help is just a click away. Call 1–800–318–2596, visit localhelp.healthcare.gov, or make a one-on-one appointment to ensure that you enroll in ACA-compliant coverage.
  • Millions of Americans who previously had job-based health insurance or who never had insurance, may not realize that they are eligible for coverage with financial help. Nearly half of all uninsured adults have neither looked for information about Marketplace coverage nor tried to obtain Medicaid/CHIP coverage yet.
  • Don’t just auto-enroll – shop again for the best deals. Go to healthcare.gov to find out what the best plan is for your family in 2023. If you have already been auto-enrolled for 2023, you have until January 15 to change plans for February and the rest of the year.

Laura Packard is a small business owner and health care advocate, and founder of Health Care Voices, organizing adults with serious medical conditions. She is a stage 4 cancer survivor, and the Affordable Care Act saved her life. If you’re interested in connecting with Laura to discuss health insurance, open enrollment, the Affordable Care Act/Obamacare, or the state of America’s health care system more generally, please reach out to ben.cook@firesidecampaigns.com.

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