(Washington, D.C., Wednesday, April 14, 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 a 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® 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. As of April 1, consumers are able to take advantage of increased premium tax credits on high quality health care plans when they enroll in coverage through HealthCare.gov. The new law will lower premiums for most people who currently have a Marketplace health plan and expand access to financial assistance for more consumers.
Dr. LaShawn McIver (mc-EEV-er), CMS Director of the Office of Minority Health talks about the benefits of the Health Insurance Marketplace and how eligible Americans can gain access to affordable health care.
Links to soundbites:
SOUNDBITE #1:
EVEN IF YOU CURRENTLY HAVE A PLAN THROUGH THE MARKETPLACE, YOU CAN GO BACK ONLINE AND RESUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION TO SEE IF YOU CAN BENEFIT FROM THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. WE’RE FINDING THAT 4-OUT-0F-5 PEOPLE CURRENTLY ENROLLED ARE ABLE TO GET PLANS FOR 10-DOLLARS OR LESS PER MONTH, AND FOR A TYPICAL FAMILY OF FOUR, WHERE THE PREMIUM MAY BE 400-DOLLARS A MONTH, THEY’RE FINDING PLANS AS LOW AS ONE-HUNDRED-SIXTY-THREE DOLLARS A MONTH. WE’RE ENCOURAGING ANYONE IN NEED OF HEALTH INSURANCE TO GO TO HEALTHCARE-DOT-GOV TODAY TO LEARN MORE.
SOUNDBITE #2:
CONSUMERS CAN RECEIVE HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE AS EARLY AS MAY 1ST IF THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD. THE COVID RELIEF LAW PROVIDES GREATLY IMPROVED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DURING THE SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD, WHICH CAN SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER PEOPLE’S PREMIUMS, SO THE SOONER CUSTOMERS ACT, THE MORE MONEY THEY WILL SAVE. IT’S HEALTHCARE-DOT-GOV WHERE YOU CAN GET ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO APPLY.
For more information, visit www.healthcare.gov