FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 1, 2023
Contact: Emma Bittner
(972) 510-3395 | Emma.Bittner@younginvincibles.org
11th Open Enrollment Period Begins, Will Run Through January 16th
(Washington, DC) – Today, the 11th Open Enrollment period began for people to enroll in new health insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace.
Young adults have the highest uninsured rate in the country with about 30% of young adults being uninsured. Pandemic-era protections for those enrolled in Medicaid have come to an end, and millions of people are being asked to renew their coverage in a process known as “Medicaid unwinding.” As of this week, over 9.5 million Medicaid enrollees have been disenrolled as a result of Medicaid unwinding. For people no longer eligible for coverage under Medicaid, they may be eligible for subsidized coverage under the ACA marketplace.
Additionally, this year is the first time that the marketplace application will include questions regarding sexual orientation and gender identity to better understand how LGBTQ+ individuals access coverage and identify where coverage gaps lie. These questions help inform the Department of Health and Human Services regarding health disparities and won’t prevent you from getting coverage. It is illegal to refuse coverage based on answers to these questions.
Open Enrollment is extended for an additional day this year as it was set to end on a federal holiday, enrollment will run from November 1st through January 16th. To enroll in a new plan, visit HealthCare.gov.
In response, Mina Schultz , Health Policy and Advocacy Manager at Young Invincibles, said:
“We know that young adults want and need quality, affordable health coverage. With an ongoing mental health crisis, and COVID-19 continuing to impact people of all ages, access to health care is more important than ever.
We want young people to know that if they don’t receive coverage through other means, like through a parent or a job or Medicaid, that the ACA marketplace may be an option for them. And thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, marketplace coverage is more affordable than it ever has been, with 4 in 5 shoppers able to find a plan for $10/month or less. Additionally, over 9.5 million people have lost their Medicaid coverage since the end of the COVID public health emergency, and young adults may not know where to turn for alternative coverage.
We encourage them to visit HealthCare.gov to see what options may be available to them there.”
In response, Mariah Adeeko, Texas Young Advocate Program Alumni said:
“It wasn’t until the Affordable Care Act that [my family was] able to obtain fairly inexpensive health insurance. We now had the freedom to pick amongst a group of doctors that could see us without the worry of breaking the bank. The ACA gave coverage to my entire family, for the first time in our lives.
The guilt I felt for feeling sick diminished over time as I realized going to the doctor didn’t have to feel like a luxury anymore. While the ACA eventually gave us access to health care, the inability to seek basic treatment at an affordable price during prior years is something no one should ever have to deal with.
Access to health care is a human right, not a privilege.”
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Young Invincibles (YI) is a national advocacy and policy nonprofit organization focused on amplifying the voice of young people in the political process at the local, state, and federal levels. YI focuses on issues impacting young adults ages 18 to 34 in higher education, health care, economic security, and civic engagement. Our offices include Washington, D.C., California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Texas. For more information, please contact Emma Bittner at (972) 510-3395 or emma.bittner@younginvincibles.org