Through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Biden-Harris Administration is taking a variety of actions to make it easier for Americans to sign up for excellent, affordable health coverage and to minimize health inequalities in communities around the country. Consumers will have an extra 30 days to examine and choose health plans starting this year through Open Enrollment on HealthCare.gov, which will run from November 1, 2021, to January 15, 2022.
- Mass involvement: More than 1,000 local groups are presently involved in the program, which provides outreach and education about the Health Insurance Marketplace, as well as how consumers can enroll in coverage through HealthCare.gov, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
- Clear call: “We’re continuing to answer the clear call from the American public for affordable, accessible care,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. “ The Biden-Harris Administration has already made historic investments to help connect communities to coverage. By continuing to build a policy framework that can support this momentum, we’re also building back better for communities in need.”
- Human right: “Health care is a basic human right, and the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to making health coverage more accessible than ever. With the Affordable Care Act and the American Rescue Plan, the President has brought affordable health coverage to millions—many of whom now have insurance for the first time,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “Today’s action to extend the Open Enrollment Period by a month, to continue our investment in local health care Navigators, and to establish a special enrollment period for many low-income people further demonstrates our commitment to connect families to coverage.”
- Greater outreach: Small increases in Marketplace issuer user fee rates will help CMS support greater outreach and engagement. All user fee rates for the 2022 Marketplace are lower than those for the 2021 Marketplace, which should help keep premiums low. In addition, thanks to $80 million in grant funds awarded earlier this year by CMS, four times as many Navigators—1,500 in total—will be accessible for consumers who use HealthCare.gov for the 2022 plan year.
- Special enrolment: CMS introduced a new monthly special enrollment period targeting specific low-income persons in Marketplaces through HealthCare.gov, in addition to extending the Open Enrollment Period and supporting the work of Navigators. Thanks to provisions in the American Rescue Plan, the great majority of eligible consumers will be able to enroll in one or more free or extremely low-cost plans.