ObamaCare News: Weekly ObamaCare Updates

The American Rescue plan Act increases and expands cost assistance under the Affordable Care Act. Up to 29 million Americans stand to benefit from the changes.

Over 528,000 people have enrolled in health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) via the federal marketplace in the first six weeks of special enrollment for COVID-19.

ObamaCare Special Enrollment 2021 starts Feb 15, 2021, and ends May 15, 2021. Everyone qualifies for this special enrollment, so if you don’t have coverage, you can apply at HealthCare.Gov now.

A new stimulus bill being proposed would fully subsidize coverage up to 150% of the poverty level, would end the subsidy cliff for people who make over 400% FPL, and more.

The White House officially announced plans to sign executive orders to re-open the marketplaces for special enrollment and to roll-back Trump era changes to Medicaid and women’s reproductive health.

President Biden plans to reopen ObamaCare’s marketplaces for 6 months in response to the pandemic. They could open as early as Thursday, Jan 28, 2021.

Did you know some states will allow you to enroll in a Marketplace plan even after the Dec 15 national deadline?

Congress has adopted a measure to stop surprise billing by 2022 in the recent stimulus bill. Stopping surprise billing was also a plank of BidenCare (Joe Biden’s plan to build on ObamaCare).

Open enrollment 2021 is over, but you may still have options. Some states have extended deadlines each year, others will qualify for special enrollment, and others will qualify for Medicaid/CHIP.

Today is your last day to get covered in 2021 under ObamaCare in most states. See extensions and state-specific deadlines below for updates on extended deadlines.

Open enrollment for 2021 health insurance and cost assistance ends December 15, 2020 in most states. State-based extensions are listed below.

The Supreme Court appears to be siding with ObamaCare in today’s hearing, as most comments from the Justices implied ObamaCare should be able to stand without the mandate.

The Supreme Court is hearing the major challenge to the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) today.

ObamaCare’s fate is currently in the hands of the Supreme Court. If the law is struck down in court, it is then in the hands of Congress.

BidenCare is Joe Biden’s version of ObamaCare, his plan to lower premiums, deductibles, and drug prices and to offer everyone a choice, keep private insurance or join a Medicare-like public option. 

Democrats have been making the case that Amy Coney Barrett becoming a Supreme Court Justice would put ObamaCare in jeopardy.

The ACA’s fate is in the hands of the Supreme Court after a Trump administration-backed court case that threatens the ACA is set to finish playing out. In light of this Trump has promised to release executive orders protecting pre-existing conditions.

Trump said that he’ll be pursuing an executive order to mandate insurers covers pre-existing conditions. With that in mind, ObamaCare already mandates this.

Voters in Missouri approved Medicaid Expansion by a vote of 53.25% to 46.75%. The vote created a state constitutional amendment that expands Medicaid to all low income adults starting on July 1, 2021.

Trump has signed four executive orders to improve the affordability and accessibility of life-saving drugs like insulin. However, the state of the fourth and most impactful order is unclear.

The Trump administration got a win in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has ruled that employers can deny women contraception based on religious grounds.

Oklahoma’s Medicaid expansion vote passed. Oklahoma is set to become the 37th state to expand Medicaid to low-income single adults after the vote narrowly passed.