Although August 15 marked the end of a one-time COVID-related special enrollment period (SEP) for marketplace health insurance in most states, the enhanced subsidies that enticed millions of consumers are still available for many individual-market buyers (as noted below, the SEP is ongoing in some states).
The American Rescue Plan’s enhancements to the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance subsidies will continue long after the end of the COVID SEP. That means that when you do have an opportunity to buy coverage again – either through open enrollment or due to a personal qualifying life event – you’ll likely find individual health insurance much less expensive than you might have expected.
The ARP’s affordability provisions are still helping with premiums
As we’ve noted over the past few months, the American Rescue Plan included numerous provisions that make ACA-compliant plans more affordable than ever. The additional health insurance subsidy enhancements delivered by the ARP include:
- Larger subsidies for people who were already subsidy-eligible.
- The elimination of the “subsidy cliff,” making more people eligible for subsidies.
- Free coverage with full cost-sharing reductions for people who have received any unemployment compensation this year.
All of those benefits continue to be available. The additional subsidies based on unemployment compensation continue through the end of 2021, while the other subsidy enhancements will be available through the end of 2022 (and possibly longer, if Congress extends them).
How popular are the ARP’s subsidy enhancements?
HHS reported last week that more than 2.5 million people had already enrolled in coverage during the COVID-related special enrollment period, and that another 2.6 million existing marketplace enrollees had activated their ARP subsidies.
Among all of the new enrollees, average after-subsidy premiums were just $85/month, as opposed to $117/month before the ARP’s subsidies became available. And across all of the new and renewing enrollees, about 35% had obtained coverage with after-subsidy premiums of less than $10/month.
That illustrates how substantial premium subsidies have become under the ARP. And again, nothing has changed about those subsidies: the special enrollment window has ended in most states, but the subsidies are still available if you’re eligible to enroll for the remainder of 2021 — and again during open enrollment for 2022, which starts November 1.
So if you’re in a state where enrollment is still open, or if you’re eligible for an individual special enrollment period in any state, it’s certainly in your best interest to see what plan options are available to you.
Enrolling as soon as you’re eligible will mean that you’re able to start taking advantage of the ARP’s subsidies right away, rather than having to wait for open enrollment and coverage that starts in 2022.
States where enrollment continues
Although the COVID SEP ended on August 15 in the states that use HealthCare.gov – and some of the states that run their own exchanges – enrollment is still actually ongoing in several states:
- Vermont: Enrollment continues through October 1 (for uninsured residents).
- Connecticut: General enrollment continues through October 31.
- DC General enrollment continues through the end of the pandemic emergency period.
- California: Enrollment continues through December 31 for uninsured residents and those switching from off-exchange to on-exchange coverage. There is also a temporary wildfire-related SEP in California, for residents in areas where a state of emergency has been declared due to wildfires.
- In Minnesota, the general COVID-related special enrollment period ended in mid-July. But the state’s marketplace is still allowing people to enroll or switch to a $0 premium plan if they have received unemployment compensation in 2021.
- New Jersey: General enrollment continues through December 31.
- New York: General enrollment continues through December 31.
Enrollment if you have a qualifying life event
Not in one of those states? Special enrollment periods are available to individuals who experience a wide range of “life changes.” The most common trigger for a personal SEP is a loss of other coverage — usually job-based coverage.
(Note that there’s usually only a 60-day window to enroll in a new plan after losing other coverage. But HealthCare.gov is making an exception for people who lost their coverage as long ago as January 2020, if they missed their enrollment deadline because they were “impacted by the COVID-19 emergency.” People who need to utilize this flexibility have to call the marketplace directly to qualify for a special enrollment period on a case-by-case basis.)
In addition to a loss of coverage, there are also other situations in which you’ll qualify for a SEP. They include events such as the birth or adoption of a child, marriage (as long as at least one spouse already had minimum essential coverage), or even your grandmothered or grandfathered plan coming up for renewal.
More opportunities to enroll in ACA-compliant coverage
In addition to the states with ongoing COVID-related enrollment periods and the individual SEPs triggered by qualifying life events, there are other circumstances under which you might still be eligible to enroll in affordable health coverage:
- If you’re eligible for Medicaid or CHIP in any state, enrollment continues year-round.
- If you’re eligible for the Basic Health Programs in New York and Minnesota, you can enroll anytime.
- If you’re eligible for Connecticut’s new Covered Connecticut family program, you have until at least the end of 2021 to sign up for free coverage.
- If you’re newly eligible for the ConnectorCare program in Massachusetts (or if this is your first time enrolling in it), you can enroll anytime.
- American Indians and Alaska Natives can enroll in marketplace plans year-round.
Mark your calendar for 2022 open enrollment
If you don’t have an enrollment period now, be sure to mark your calendar for the start of open enrollment on November 1. That’s when you’ll be able to sign up for health coverage that will take effect in January, with coverage for essential health benefits and pre-existing conditions. During open enrollment, your medical history won’t matter, and neither will your coverage history.
And if you’re already enrolled in an ACA-compliant plan – or soon will be – you’ll still want to pay attention to open enrollment this fall. There are new insurers joining the marketplaces in many areas, which might have an unexpected effect on your premium subsidy. And even if you’re happy with the plan you have now, you might find that a different plan works better for the coming year.
Fortunately, the ARP’s subsidy enhancements will continue to be available for 2022. So if you’re eligible for subsidies – and most people are – your coverage for next year is likely to be quite affordable.
Louise Norris is an individual health insurance broker who has been writing about health insurance and health reform since 2006. She has written dozens of opinions and educational pieces about the Affordable Care Act for healthinsurance.org. Her state health exchange updates are regularly cited by media who cover health reform and by other health insurance experts.