President Biden announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) is extending access to the Special Enrollment Period
(SEP) until August 15 – giving consumers additional time to take
advantage of new savings through the American Rescue
Plan.
This action provides new and current enrollees an additional
three months to enroll or re-evaluate their coverage needs with
increased tax credits available to reduce premiums.
“Every American deserves access to quality, affordable health care –
especially as we fight back against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said HHS
Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Through this Special Enrollment Period, the
Biden Administration is giving the American people
the chance they need to find an affordable health care plan that works
for them. The American Rescue Plan will bring costs down for millions of
Americans, and I encourage consumers to visit HealthCare.gov and sign
up for a plan before August 15.”
As a result of the American Rescue Plan, additional savings will be
available for consumers through HealthCare.gov starting April 1. These
savings will decrease premiums for many, on average, by $50 per person
per month and $85 per policy per month. On average,
one out of four enrollees on HeathCare.gov will be able to upgrade to a
higher plan category that offers better out of pocket costs at the same
or lower premium compared to what they’re paying today.
Consumers who want to access the SEP to enroll in coverage and see if
they qualify for financial help to reduce the cost of monthly premiums,
can visit
HealthCare.gov or
CuidadoDeSalud.gov to view 2021 plans and prices and enroll in a plan that best meets their needs. Additionally, consumers can call the
Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596, which provides assistance
in over 150 languages. TTY users should call 1-855-889-4325. Consumers
can also find a local assister or agent/broker in their area:
https://localhelp.healthcare.gov
Consumers who are eligible and enroll under the SEP will be able to
select a plan with coverage that could start as soon as the first month
after plan selection. Current enrollees will be able to change to any
plan available to them in their area. To take
advantage of the SEP, current enrollees should review their application
and make changes, if needed, to their current information and submit
their application in order to receive an updated eligibility result.
Additionally, beginning in early July on HealthCare.gov, consumers
who have received or have been determined eligible to receive
unemployment compensation for any week during 2021 may be able to get
another increase in savings when enrolling in new Marketplace
coverage or updating their existing Marketplace application and
enrollment. These savings to be made available starting in early July
for eligible consumers are in addition to the increased savings
available to consumers on HealthCare.gov starting April 1.
The SEP is currently available to consumers in the 36 states that use the
HealthCare.gov platform. Consumers served by State-based
Marketplaces that use their own platform can check their state’s website
to find out more information on Special Enrollment Periods in their
state.
To see how the American Rescue Plan will bring down health care costs and expand on the Affordable Care Act, visit:
https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/03/12/fact-sheet-american-rescue-plan-reduces-health-care-costs-expands-access-insurance-coverage.html.
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