Here’s what Biden’s Obamacare decree means to you

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As a result of its action, the Department of Health and Social Services is set to reopen registration for the Federal Exchange of the Affordable Care Act between February 15 and May 15.

This would give Americans who missed the most recent registration period, which ended Dec. 15, access to Obamacare policies – and federal help to pay for them. About 15 million uninsured people could benefit, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Nearly 9 million of them could benefit from free or subsidized coverage, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Individuals earning up to approximately $ 51,000 and families of four earning up to approximately $ 104,800 are eligible for grants.

Some 36 states use the federal exchange, healthcare.gov, for registration. But most, if not all, of the states that operate their own markets should also launch special listing periods, according to a White House official.

Still, it’s unclear how many people will take advantage of the opportunity to select an Obamacare policy.

The Biden administration promises to lead a “strong outreach” effort to educate these people about the opportunity and help them register, the official said. It will include paid advertising, direct consumer outreach and partnerships with community organizations.

Here are the executive actions Biden has signed so far
The Trump administration, by contrast, dramatically cut marketing and registration support during its four years in office. President Donald Trump also refused to reopen the federal exchange last spring as the coronavirus pandemic ravaged the country and the economy. Most public markets provided for special registration periods.
People have always been able to purchase Affordable Care Act coverage outside of the main enrollment period, which lasted for six weeks from November 1 under the Trump administration. But it is generally limited to those who have lost their professional coverage or who have had a major change in their life, such as a divorce. In addition, consumers who wish to take advantage of it must provide documentation proving that they meet the criteria, and new unemployed people only have 60 days after losing coverage to choose an Obamacare policy.

Those who register for the new special registration period will not face these constraints.

More measurements to come

Reopening the federal exchange is far from the last move Biden will make on health care. But many of the other efforts will take much longer, in part because they would require the inversion or modification of rules, waivers and demonstration projects put in place by the Trump administration.

As part of Thursday’s executive action, Biden is starting the process. He asks federal agencies to reconsider a host of measures taken by his predecessor. They include policies that weaken protections for people with pre-existing conditions and undermine Obamacare trading or other health insurance markets.

He also wants agencies to look at measures that make it more difficult to enroll in Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act and that reduce accessibility or financial assistance, including for dependents.

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

The agencies will also consider whether further action is needed to strengthen and protect access to health care.

In addition, the president on Thursday signed a presidential memorandum to reverse the restrictions on abortion access imposed and extended at home and abroad by the Trump administration, according to the Biden administration.

Other actions require Congress

Biden also needs Congress to keep his campaign promises to increase the number of insured Americans by strengthening the Affordable Care Act.

Its two main measures – creating a government-run public option and increasing federal subsidies for Obamacare – require legislative approval and already face strong opposition.

The president included a proposal to increase the Affordable Care Act subsidy so consumers don’t pay more than 8.5% of their income for coverage in his $ 1.9 trillion relief program, who is already encountering obstacles on Capitol Hill.

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