ObamaCare open enrollment kicks off
Nov 01, 2024
Click in for more news from The Hill{beacon}
Health Care
Health Care
The Big Story ACA enrollment now open days before electionAmericans can start signing up for health coverage through ObamaCare plans today, on the eve of an election where the future of the program will be on the ballot.
© GettyBeginning Friday, customers have until Dec. 15 to enroll to have coverage starting on Jan. 1, 2025. Open enrollment ends on Jan. 15.
The Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare, is once again a major election issue. This week, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) promised a massive overhaul of the law if former President Trump and Republicans win the election.
For the past three years, ACA enrollment has reached consecutive record levels, contributing to a historically low rate of Americans being uninsured. Much of this has been credited to the subsidies first passed by the American Rescue Plan Act and extended through the Inflation Reduction Act.
The subsidies contributed to lower premiums and deductibles, enabling more people to afford health insurance. Both President Biden and Vice President Harris have called for these subsidies to be made permanent, but that would cost more than $300 billion over the next 10 years, and Republicans have balked at the price tag. With only days to go before Election Day, the Trump campaign has yet to present a plan for replacing ObamaCare, a conundrum that plagued former President Trump throughout his first term.
Trump has said only that he has “concepts of a plan” to change the law and has recently tried to rewrite his history on attempts to repeal it.
This year, a new rule also extends the law’s health coverage to immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. Under the rule, active recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) will be eligible to enroll in a taxpayer-subsidized health plan under the ACA.
Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Nathaniel Weixel, Joseph Choi and Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.
Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.
Essential Reads How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond:
Key senators release ‘site-neutral’ plan to stop Medicare paying hospitals more for same serviceTwo key senators released a bipartisan plan Friday to require Medicare to pay the same rate for the same service, regardless of where the service is delivered. The “site-neutral” payment reform plan from Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) is aimed at stopping hospitals from getting more money from Medicare for procedures that can be done in less expensive settings, like a physician office or an …
Full Story
Harris: RFK Jr. ‘last person in America’ who should set health policyVice President Harris on Friday blasted Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s possible role as a public health authority in a second Donald Trump administration, calling him the “last person” who should be considered for such a position. “He [Trump] has indicated that the person who would be in charge of health care for the American people is someone who has routinely promoted junk science and crazy conspiracy …
Full Story
Samantha Bee sounds the alarm on abortion access with pre-Election Day release of short film: ‘Now really is the time’
Comedian Samantha Bee says now “really is the time” to get the word out about the film she executive produced focused on reproductive rights, which is why the Academy Award-nominated project is being made available to watch for free ahead of Election Day. “Red, White and Blue” stars Brittany Snow as a single mom living in Arkansas who “is forced to cross state lines in search of a critically urgent …
Full Story
Around the Nation Local and state headlines on health care:
In Montana, conservative groups see chance to kill Medicaid expansion (KFF Health News)
A pregnant teenager died after trying to get care in three visits to Texas emergency rooms (ProPublica)
Nebraska confuses voters with dueling abortion ballot measures (BGov) What We're Reading Health news we've flagged from other outlets:
Ted Kennedy Jr. expresses concern about Trump’s ‘flagrant disregard’ for public health (Stat)
Democratic candidates are ‘backtracking’ on their support for trans rights, advocates say (NOTUS)
Being sugar-deprived had major effects on these children’s health (New York Times) What Others are Reading
Most read stories on The Hill right now:
CNN contributor takes back Cheney ‘firing squad’ quip: ‘I was wrong’
Political analyst Jonah Goldberg retracted comments made during a Friday CNN appearance in response to former President Trump’s criticism of former … Read more
Nate Silver calls Marist ‘blue wall’ polls ‘reassuring’ for Harris
Veteran pollster Nate Silver said Friday’s Marist poll bodes well for Vice President Harris’s campaign, with just days until the election. Silver, … Read more What People Think Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill:
The real cannabis policy power lies beyond the Oval OfficeMisplaced priorities at the Department of Veterans Affairs are hurting veterans
You're all caught up. See you next week!
Close
Thank you for signing up!
Subscribe to more newsletters here
The latest in politics and policy.
Direct to your inbox.
Sign up for the Health Care newsletter
Subscribe