FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 1, 2020
Contact: Juan Ramiro Sarmiento
(785) 760-6567 | juan.sarmiento@younginvincibles.org

ACA’s Open Enrollment Begins Amid Public Health Crisis and Economic Uncertainty

Washington, DC – Today marks the first day of the Affordable Care Act’s 8th annual open enrollment period. Uninsured individuals can begin enrolling in 2021 health coverage at HealthCare.Gov until the December 15th deadline. Despite uncertainty due to the COVID pandemic and overall fate of the ACA, insurer participation is up, premiums are steady, and financial help is readily available to nearly all enrollees.

Erin Hemlin, Health Policy and Advocacy Director at Young Invincibles, issued the following statement as open enrollment began:

“The COVID pandemic has caused massive disruption in the lives of millions of young people. They have been laid off, lost their jobs, had their hours cut. They are worried about completing their degrees. They are struggling with child care. They are working on the front lines, exposing themselves to the risk of infection. And of course, on top of the economic insecurity created by the pandemic, they are uninsured – uninsured at higher rates than any other age group.

Despite the uncertainty the pandemic has created, as well as the political implications of a national election and controversial Supreme Court case, the ACA’s open enrollment period started today as it normally would. Not only is the individual market open – premiums remain steady and in some cases are decreasing, and insurer participation is up.

Young people who are uninsured or who need to renew coverage can do so starting today, until December 15. And while tight budgets are top of mind for many shoppers – coverage is more affordable than most people think. Last year, more than 8 in 10 shoppers received financial help, and 2 in 3 shoppers could find a plan for just $10 a month or less.

It’s incredibly important that people who need health coverage know when, where, and how to enroll. We’ll be continuing to spread the message throughout open enrollment to ensure that every young person who wants the peace of mind of health coverage, knows that coverage that is comprehensive and actually affordable is available to them.”

Open enrollment runs from November 1 – December 15 in most states. Learn more about Young Invincibles’ outreach and enrollment work here.

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