Obamacare Sign-Ups Surge To Over 20 Million Americans

The Biden administration announced on Jan. 24 that a record-breaking 20 million Americans have enrolled in health insurance through Obamacare this year.

The Biden administration announced on Jan. 24 that a record-breaking 20 million Americans have enrolled in health insurance through Obamacare, known formally as the Affordable Care Act, marketplaces this year, according to Axios. This notable surge in sign-ups, a 25% increase from the previous year, reflects the administration’s efforts to expand access and affordability.

President Joe Biden, likely to spotlight these results during his upcoming campaigns, emphasized the need to build on this progress and make lower healthcare premiums a permanent fixture. The latest enrollment figures unveiled just days before the open enrollment period’s closure on Jan. 16 underscore the impact of Democratic initiatives, including tax breaks, aimed at providing millions with access to cost-effective plans, some with zero-dollar premiums.

“We must build upon this progress and make these lower health care premiums permanent,” said President Biden in a statement, while also lamenting that “extreme Republicans have blocked these efforts at every turn.”

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra attributed the heightened interest in coverage to an aggressive campaign aimed at facilitating enrollment. Collaborating with nonprofits nationwide, with a focus on Black and Latino communities like South Florida, the administration also increased funding for navigators, a program that helps people enroll, which suffered cuts during the Trump administration.

“The previous administration made no effort to let people know what they could get. We’re out there, we’re not waiting for them to come to us. We’re going to them,” emphasized Secretary Becerra during an interview with MSNBC’s Morning Joe.

However, the surge in enrollment has not occurred without challenges. Some new enrollees turned to the marketplace after being removed from Medicaid, the nearly free healthcare coverage for the most vulnerable Americans. According to NBC News, the health plans they purchase through the marketplace come with higher premiums and co-pays for services.

Approximately 14.5 million Americans were recently removed from Medicaid after the federal government lifted a three-year ban, allowing states to purge ineligible individuals from the government-sponsored health insurance. Riddled with errors, this process has left thousands, including children and pregnant women, without health insurance coverage in certain states.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump, a staunch critic of Obamacare, continues to threaten the Biden administration’s efforts to fortify former President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law. Trump, addressing a rally in Iowa, referred to Obamacare as a “catastrophe” and criticized the late Republican Sen. John McCain for thwarting GOP attempts to dismantle the law over five years ago.

While the open enrollment for ACA health insurance plans concluded on Jan. 16, individuals removed from Medicaid may be eligible to enroll through the end of July, offering a potential extension for those facing disruptions in coverage.