Here’s what Biden’s Obamacare executive order means for you

Her action requires the Department of Health and Human Services to resume listing on the federal Affordable Care Act Exchange between Feb. 15 and Kan.

It will help Americans who missed the last enrollment period, which ended on the 15th. The month of December ended in failure as they failed to access Obamacare policies – and federal assistance to pay for them. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, about 15 million uninsured people could benefit.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly 9 million of them are entitled to free or subsidized care. Individuals earning approximately $51,000 and families of four earning approximately $104,800 are eligible.

About 36 states use the federal healthcare.gov exchange to register. But most, if not all, states that manage their own markets should also begin special registration periods, a White House official said.

It is not yet known how many people will take the opportunity to join an Obamacare policy.

The Biden administration promises to actively reach out to these individuals to make them aware of this opportunity and help them register, the official said. It will include paid advertising, direct contact with consumers and partnerships with community organizations.

Here are the executive actions Biden has signed so far.

In contrast, the Trump administration has reduced support for marketing and hiring during its four-year tenure. President Donald Trump also refused to renew the federal grant last spring when the coronavirus pandemic devastated the country and its economy. Most state trading platforms offer special registration periods.

People could still sign up for the Affordable Care Act outside the main enrollment period, which lasted six weeks from Jan. 1. November under the Trump administration lasted a tick. But it is usually limited to people who have lost coverage at work or who have undergone a major life change, such as divorce. for example. In addition, consumers who want to take advantage of it must prove their eligibility, and newly unemployed people have only 60 days after losing their coverage to choose an Obamacare policy.

Individuals who enroll in the new special admission period are not required to comply with these restrictions.

Additional future actions

The reinstatement of the federal scholarship is far from Mr. Biden’s last gesture in health care. But many other efforts will take much longer, in part because they will require repeal or modification of rules, waivers and demonstration projects put in place by the Trump administration.

In an executive action Thursday, Biden begins the process. He has ordered federal agencies to review the many measures of his predecessor. These include measures that weaken protections for people with pre-existing conditions and undermine Obamacare or other health insurance markets.

He also wants agencies to review policies that make it harder to enroll in Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act and reduce accessibility or financial assistance, including for dependents.

And the president is asking agencies to review Affordable Care Act and Medicaid waivers and demonstration projects that the Trump administration has approved or enacted that could limit coverage or undermine programs, including work requirements.

The agencies will also consider whether additional measures are needed to strengthen and protect access to health care.

In addition, the president signed a presidential memorandum Thursday lifting restrictions on abortion access at home and abroad that had been imposed and expanded by the Trump administration, according to the Biden administration.

Other actions require Congress

Biden also wants Congress to fulfill its election promises to increase the number of insured Americans by strengthening the Affordable Care Act.

The two most important measures – the creation of a state option and an increase in federal subsidies for Obamacare awards – require legislative approval and are already meeting with considerable resistance.

The president has included in his $1.9 trillion bailout plan, already stuck on Capitol Hill, a proposal to increase subsidies under the Affordable Care Act so that consumers don’t have to pay more than 8.5% of their income to be covered.