President Joe Biden said 1 million Americans have signed up for health insurance under “Obamacare” during a special enrollment period for people needing coverage during the coronavirus pandemic. The White House said the numbers reinforce the need to strengthen the ACA.
- A million signatures: A million people signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act in less than three months since the Biden administration reopened enrollment, the White House said, adding that the numbers reinforce the need to further expand the health care law.
- More people into ACA: “That’s one million more Americans who now have the peace of mind that comes from having health insurance. One million more Americans who don’t have to lie awake at night worrying about what happens if they or one of their family members gets sick,” President Joe Biden said in a statement.
- A life-changing decision: Biden in January signed an executive order opening a special enrollment period for the federal insurance marketplace. The order allowed people to sign up or change their health insurance plan outside of the annual open enrollment period or a qualifying life change in the 36 states that use the marketplace.
- Sweeping plan: In his statement, Biden praised the latest COVID-19 relief package signed earlier this year that also subsidized health insurance premiums for low-income people through the marketplace for two years. Biden further called on Congress to take up his American Families Plan, a sweeping economic plan that would make the premium reduction permanent.
- Enormous progress in health: Biden said the U.S. had made “enormous progress” in expanding access to health insurance through this special enrollment period. “Health care is a right, not a privilege — and ensuring that every single American has access to the quality, affordable health care they need is a national imperative,” he said in a statement.