(Washington, D.C., Friday, May 28, 2021) – The American Rescue Plan (ARP) not only provides resources to beat the pandemic, but it also expands access to health insurance coverage, and lowers cost ensuring nearly everyone who buys their own individual or family insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace can receive a tax credit to reduce their premiums.

As we continue to battle COVID-19, it is more important than ever that Americans have access to affordable health care. The Health Insurance Marketplace®[1] at HealthCare.gov has a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) available now to all Marketplace-eligible consumers who apply. And, as a result of ARP, millions of customers now have access to newly expanded financial assistance on HealthCare.gov.

Consumers who act today will have coverage starting June 1.

Dr. LaShawn McIver (mc-EEV-er), CMS Director of the Office of Minority Health talks about what needs to be done to ensure you get coverage through HealthCare.gov.

Links to soundbites: ­­

#1 Soundbite One
#2 Soundbite Two
#3 Soundbite Three

Soundbite #1
IF YOU NEED HEALTH INSURANCE, NOW IS THE TIME TO VISIT HEALTHCARE.GOV. IF YOU SIGN UP BY MAY 31^ST, YOUR COVERAGE CAN START AS SOON AS JUNE 1^ST. THE NEW COVID RELIEF LAW PROVIDES ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH CAN SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER YOUR MONTHLY PREMIUM. 4 OUT OF 5 CONSUMERS CAN FIND PLANS FOR TEN DOLLARS A MONTH OR LESS, THANKS TO THIS EXPANDED FINANCIAL HELP. REMEMBER, IF YOU SIGN UP TODAY ON HEALTHCARE.GOV, YOUR COVERAGE CAN START ON THE FIRST OF JUNE.

Soundbite #2
DUE TO THE COVID RELIEF LAW, MILLIONS MORE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF INCREASED FINANCIAL HELP FOR HIGH QUALITY HEALTH CARE PLANS DURING HEALTHCARE.GOV’S SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD. THOSE WHO ARE UNINSURED, AND PEOPLE WHO CURRENTLY HAVE COVERAGE THROUGH HEALTHCARE.GOV, CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE LOWER PREMIUMS NOW. IN FACT, 4 OUT OF 5 CUSTOMERS CAN FIND A PLAN FOR LESS THAN TEN DOLLARS A MONTH. IF YOU TAKE ACTION BY MAY 31^ST, YOU CAN SEE LOWER COSTS STARTING ON JUNE 1^St.

Soundbite #3
DUE TO THE COVID RELIEF LAW, MILLIONS MORE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF INCREASED FINANCIAL HELP FOR HIGH QUALITY HEALTH CARE PLANS DURING THE SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD. THOSE WHO ARE UNINSURED, AND PEOPLE WHO CURRENTLY HAVE COVERAGE FROM HEALTHCARE.GOV, CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE LOWER PREMIUMS NOW. ON AVERAGE, MANY PREMIUMS WILL DECREASE BY $50 PER PERSON PER MONTH WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. IN FACT, 4 OUT OF 5 CUSTOMERS CAN FIND A PLAN FOR LESS THAN $10 A MONTH. CONSUMERS WHO TAKE ACTION BY THE END OF THIS MONTH CAN SEE LOWER COSTS STARTING WITH THEIR PREMIUMS ON THE FIRST DAY OF NEXT MONTH.

For more information, visit www.healthcare.gov.

[1] Health Insurance Marketplace® is a registered service mark of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.