Affordable Care Act Enrollments Trail Last Year’s Record Numbers
New Enrollments Under the Affordable Care Act Trail Last Year’s Record Numbers
New enrollments under the Affordable Care Act are on pace to trail last year’s record numbers by as many as a million as the outgoing Biden administration confronts upheavals in the program. Donald Trump’s election to a second term has cast uncertainty around the future of the health law. In addition, the Biden administration implemented cumbersome policies to reduce fraudulent enrollment and is combating a lawsuit that aims to block immigrants who lack legal residency from buying insurance under the program.
Enrollment Numbers Below Last Year’s
So far, the number of new and returning enrollees using healthcare.gov, the federal marketplace that serves 31 states, is below last year’s. New enrollments were just over 730,000 in early December, compared with 1.5 million at the same time last year.
Extension of Enrollment Deadline
To give consumers in federal marketplace states more time to enroll, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services extended to December 18 the deadline to sign up for coverage that starts January 1. (The January 15 deadline is for coverage that would begin February 1.)
Dreamers and ACA Coverage
Also in flux is a rule issued by the Biden administration allowing, for the first time, enrollment in ACA coverage by people brought to the U.S. as children without immigration paperwork, known as "Dreamers."
Court Ruling and Temporary Stay
The Biden team was granted a temporary stay on December 16 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit regarding a December 9 order by a federal judge in North Dakota. That district court judge had ruled in favor of 19 states that sought to block the Biden administration’s Dreamers directive. Without a stay, the decision would bar those who have qualified for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in the 19 states from enrolling in or getting subsidies for ACA plans. It does not appear to affect enrollment or coverage in other states, lawyers following the case have said.
Conclusion
The future of the Affordable Care Act remains uncertain, with enrollments trailing last year’s record numbers. The Biden administration’s efforts to reduce fraudulent enrollment and the lawsuit aimed at blocking immigrants without legal residency from buying insurance under the program have contributed to the decline. The court ruling and temporary stay add to the uncertainty, leaving many wondering what the future holds for the health law.
FAQs
Q: What is the current state of Affordable Care Act enrollments?
A: New enrollments under the Affordable Care Act are on pace to trail last year’s record numbers by as many as a million.
Q: What are the reasons for the decline in enrollments?
A: The decline is attributed to the Biden administration’s efforts to reduce fraudulent enrollment and the lawsuit aimed at blocking immigrants without legal residency from buying insurance under the program.
Q: What is the current status of the court ruling and temporary stay?
A: The Biden team was granted a temporary stay on December 16 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, staying the December 9 order by a federal judge in North Dakota.
Q: What does the future hold for the Affordable Care Act?
A: The future of the Affordable Care Act remains uncertain, with the court ruling and temporary stay adding to the uncertainty.
