You'll have to forgive me my poor metaphor below, but it's the best I can think of at the moment. I've been awake for 29 hours straight now, as I woke up at 5am yesterday for a 15-hour shift as a poll worker in Pontiac, Michigan, and, like many of you I'm sure, I was unable to sleep at all last night. I just got off a devastating phone call with my son who's a freshman in college who doesn't understand why what just happened...happened.
There's going to be a mountain of digital & physical ink spilled and a cacophony of talking heads on the Sunday morning shows yapping about What Went Wrong, yadda yadda yadda. Most of it will be bullshit. Some of it will be accurate.
Since writing about healthcare is my thing, and writing about the ACA specifically is very much in my wheelhouse, I'm going to put my take on this into healthcare risk pool terms. Besides, assuming the GOP also keeps control of the House, the ACA is likely gone (and even if they don't, it's about to be radically gutted via regulatory actions anyway), so I might as well.
The 2025 ACA Open Enrollment Period (OEP) officially begins on November 1st.
This is the best OEP ever for the ACA for several reasons:
The expanded/enhanced premium subsidies first introduced in 2021 via the American Rescue Plan, which make premiums more affordable for those who already qualified while expanding eligibility to millions who weren't previously eligible, are continuing through the end of 2025 via the Inflation Reduction Act;
A dozen states are either launching, continuing or expanding their own state-based subsidy programs to make ACA plans even more affordable for their enrollees;
And remember, millions of people will be eligible for zero premium comprehensive major medical policies.
If you've never enrolled in an ACA healthcare policy before, or if you looked into it a few years back but weren't impressed, please give it another shot now. Thanks to these major improvements it's a whole different ballgame.
Here's some important things to know when you #GetCovered for 2025:
I've spent the past couple of weeks up to my ears in 2025 annual healthcare policy rate filing analysis, so I haven't gotten around to addressing JD Vance's recent appearance on NBC in which he finally explained exactly what Donald Trump's "concept of a plan" for healthcare is:
When Donald Trump stammered at the recent presidential debate that he had “concepts of a plan” for Americans’ health care, he came across like a child who had forgotten his homework. But thanks to his campaign and his running mate JD Vance, we know now the Republican ticket really does have some “concepts.” Those concepts are bringing health care into the election — and presenting a tremendous opportunity to Vice President Kamala Harris.
Last Sunday, Vance raised the eyebrows of anyone familiar with health care policy when he told NBC’s Kristen Welker about Trump’s “deregulatory agenda.”
Sorry about the headline, but it's kind of difficult to focus on stuff which seems pretty mundane at the moment.
Still, it is part of my job to analyze the annual weighted average premium rate changes for ACA individual & small group policies to the best of my ability, so I'm doing that.
The final/approved rates for 2025 mostly come from the federal rate review database, although in some states they come directly from their insurance department website or the SERFF database.
Oddly, the federal rate review database still only has partial data for Oklahoma and Tennessee, and none at all for Wyoming, even though we're nearly a week open enrollment, so I can't plug those in yet. Huh.
Georgia Access, Georgia’s new State-based Exchange, announced today its readiness for the upcoming Open Enrollment period, including a robust roster of over 15,000 new and returning certified agents to date and multiple enrollment options for consumers to shop for and enroll in quality, affordable health coverage.
“Georgia Access is pleased that more than 15,000 licensed and certified agents will be available to help residents find the best coverage options to meet their unique needs and budgets,” said Georgia Access Executive Director Cheryl Gardner. “Agents offer consumers localized help and a personalized customer experience. They are integral in our mission to providing multiple pathways for consumers to enroll in health coverage and to reducing the number of uninsured residents in Georgia.”
Washington Health Benefit Exchange announces key dates and health insurance changes for 2025; enhanced federal premium tax credits and Cascade Care Savings expected to drive record high enrollment in 2025
Today, Washington Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) announced open enrollment through wahealthplanfinder.org for individual health and dental plans for calendar year 2025. In preparation for the launch, Washington Healthplanfinder will be closed on Oct. 31.
Open enrollment: Nov. 1, 2024 – Jan. 15, 2025.
Reminder: Enroll by Dec. 15, 2024, to begin coverage Jan. 1, 2025.
During open enrollment, all Washingtonians who do not get their health insurance through an employer, spouse or government program can visit Washington Healthplanfinder to shop, compare and purchase health and dental plans for next year.
Harrisburg, PA – TOMORROW – Pennie celebrates its fifth Open Enrollment Period starting tomorrow, November 1, 2024, for the 2025 coverage year. Uninsured Pennsylvanians are encouraged to join the over 435,000 customers who have found peace of mind and financial protection by enrolling in health coverage through Pennie.
Open Enrollment is the annual opportunity for Pennsylvanians who need health coverage to find high-quality health plans at the lowest costs at pennie.com. Pennie is Pennsylvania’s official health insurance marketplace, and the exclusive source for financial savings to lower monthly premium payments or out-of-pocket costs.
Nine in 10 people Who Enroll Will Qualify for Savings; Many Will Pay $10 Per Month or Less; Visit GetCovered.NJ.gov to Compare Available Plans, Review Financial Help Eligibility
TRENTON — Open enrollment for Get Covered New Jersey, the state’s Official Health Insurance Marketplace, kicks off on Friday, November 1, Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance Commissioner Justin Zimmerman announced today. New Jersey residents and families will continue to benefit from historic levels of financial help to purchase health insurance and lower the cost of monthly premiums.
BALTIMORE (Oct. 31, 2024) – Marylanders can enroll in low cost health plans for 2025 on MarylandHealthConnection.gov, the state’s health insurance marketplace. It’s the only place that offers tax credits to bring down the cost of the monthly premium.
Open enrollment runs from Nov. 1, 2024, through Jan. 15, 2025. Coverage starts Jan. 1, 2025, for plans selected by Dec. 31, and coverage starts on Feb. 1, 2025, for plans selected the first two weeks of January. This open enrollment period is for private plans only. Those who qualify for Medicaid may enroll any time of year.
“More Marylanders than ever are enrolled in health plans through Maryland Health Connection.” said Michele Eberle, executive director of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange. “This past year, people who got private health insurance saved an average of $388 a month on their monthly premium.”
Mainers without health coverage may enroll through CoverME.gov to receive financial savings on high quality health insurance
AUGUSTA-- The Maine Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS) Office of the Health Insurance Marketplace (OHIM) announced today that the fourth annual Open Enrollment period for 2025 will begin on Friday, November 1, 2024. Maine people without access to health or dental insurance coverage through their employer, Medicare, or the state's Medicaid plan, known as MaineCare are encouraged to find coverage through Maine's official health insurance marketplace, CoverME.gov.
Open Enrollment runs from November 1, 2024 through January 15th, 2025. Maine people can visit CoverME.gov to compare private plans, apply for financial savings, and enroll in a 2025 health and dental insurance plan.
