As a result of the Coronavirus Pandemic, several States Reopen ACA Insurance Enrollment.
Affordable Care Act supporters wave signs outside the Supreme Court.
Several U.S. states are offering their uninsured residents another opportunity to sign up for a health plan this year as they seek new ways to fight the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Several states have reopened their health insurance exchanges reports the New York Times this month to help ease consumers’ concerns about the cost of health care so that the sick will not be deterred from seeking medical attention. Uninsured patients who are avoiding needed medical care and get infected with the virus are more likely to inadvertently spread it.
Generally, under ACA rules, consumers who buy their own insurance must purchase a policy during the regular open enrollment period in the fall. If they do not buy a plan and do not qualify for a special enrollment period, they cannot obtain health insurance from the exchange until the next open enrollment. But there has been an exception due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The new enrollment periods will ease insurance sign-ups for people who have recently lost health coverage along with their jobs. And they will provide an opportunity for people who didn’t buy insurance for the year to reconsider that choice.
The states that have recently reopened exchanges having more flexibility than most states to create a special enrollment period because they run their own health exchanges.
Colorado – reopened exchanges
California – reopened exchanges (for unrelated events)
Connecticut – reopened exchanges
District of Colombia – reopened exchanges (for unrelated events)
Maryland – reopened exchanges until April 15th
Massachusetts – reopened exchanges until April 25th
Nevada – reopened exchanges
New York – reopened exchanges
Rhode Island – reopened exchanges
Vermont – reopened exchanges
Washington – reopened exchanges until April 8th
Another such state, California, announced Friday that its exchange, which had been open for reasons unrelated to the outbreak, will continue to allow residents to enroll through June because of the upheaval caused by the coronavirus. The District of Columbia is also allowing residents to sign up for coverage for reasons unrelated to the outbreak.
It is not clear if the federal government, which runs the marketplaces for 32 states on healthcare.gov, will open their exchanges but are considering a similar move. Twenty-five senators sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services on March 12, urging them to give consumers who rely on HealthCare.gov a special opportunity to enroll.
Nearly 28 million people in the United States do not have health insurance. More than ever before Americans are concerned about protecting their health.
