President Joe Biden will extend the enrollment period until August 15. The expansion is part of his administration’s effort to address the ongoing pandemic’s impact.
What We Know:
- The President of the United States made the announcement on Tuesday, March 23, 2021. He says the second extension will let the enrolled, both new and current, capitalize on the enhanced subsidies of last month’s COVID-19 package. Everyone who has coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA)’s marketplaces will be eligible to have more than $50 reduced on their premium costs monthly.
- The relief package makes subsidies more affordable for low-income shoppers. For the first time ever, the bill also permits middle-class consumers to apply. Biden’s administration said the enhanced pensions would be available on Healthcare.gov on April 1. Democratic lawmakers are making an effort to make the benefits permanent before they expire in two years.
- The extension strays from the regular enrollment period. The federal ACA marketplace is open to applications, usually for six weeks at the end of the year. According to NBC News, buying a plan outside the period is allowed only after a serious circumstance, such as giving birth or the loss of a job. Starting in July 2021, Americans who claimed unemployment at any period last year will be eligible to receive free coverage under the relief package.
- This year only, more than 200,000 people signed up on the federal website during the first two weeks of the period. Politico says this is about triple the rate of last year’s registration. Alongside this, the administration intends to spend $50 million to promote the special enrollment season through an outreach campaign.
Biden’s statement was made on the 11th Anniversary of the ACA. It was signed into law in 2010 when Biden was President Barack Obama’s Vice President.
