Despite relentless repeal efforts, more than 11.8 million people signed up for coverage through the Affordable Care Act's ( ACA ) Insurance Marketplaces for plan year 2018. This figure represents only a slight ( 3.7 percent ) decline in enrollment compared to last year, which is simply remarkable considering the headwinds and obstacles faced during this year's open enrollment. In fact, a recent report shows that states running their own marketplaces posted significant enrollment increases and demonstrates what is possible with leadership that is supportive of the law.
Open enrollment began after the Trump administration sharply cut federal enrollment outreach efforts, reduced the time frame to enroll, raised premiums by ending cost-sharing subsidy payments, and even posted advertisements critical of the law on official government websites.
Protect Our Care Illinois and its member organizations applaud these robust enrollment figures and the thousands of families who signed up here in Illinois as well. This year, 334,979 Illinois residents enrolled through the end of open enrollment on Dec. 15, down only 6 percent compared to 2017.
These strong enrollment numbers remind us how highly families value the private health insurance and consumer protections offered through marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act. Despite counterproductive actions by the Trump administration, families from across the nation signed up for coverage at an unprecedented pace. We urge President Trump and his Congress to honor the will of the American people and abandon their efforts to undermine the ACA health coverage relied on by working families. Instead, lawmakers at the federal and state levels should focus on improving the health of our communities by helping more families afford their health insurance and ensuring that the coverage they receive is comprehensive and high quality.
Protect Our Care-Illinois is a statewide coalition of healthcare advocates, providers, consumers and workers, joining together to prevent the repeal of the Affordable Care Act ( ACA ), prevent disastrous changes to Medicaid and protect and expand access to quality affordable healthcare.
Those who would like more information about this topic should call Graciela Guzman at 773-270-2611 or email ggguzman@heartlandalliance.org .
Heartland Alliance