The White House announced on April 1
that more than 7 million Americans have
signed up for health plans under the Affordable
Care Act.
Congressional budget analysts had long
forecast that 7 million people would get
coverage this year through new federal and
state insurance marketplaces created by
the health care law during a sign-up period
that ended March 31.
But the budget analysts’ forecast was
downgraded to 6 million in February,
taking into account massive computer
problems with HealthCare.gov, the online
federal marketplace, that frustrated many
consumers who tried to shop for and buy
health plans.
Marilyn Tavenner, administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said in a statement that consumers “are coming in near record numbers to check out their options for affordable health coverage at HealthCare.gov or seeking help from a trained assister in person or via our 24/7 call center.”
She said as March ended, “we are working hard to ensure that our systems can handle the unprecedented demand” as people enrolled before the March 31 deadline.
According to Tavenner, millions of Americans have gotten health coverage through the marketplace in the last five months. The health care law requires most Americans to have health coverage in 2014 or pay a fine for noncompliance when they file their taxes in 2015.
Open Enrollment for 2014 coverage is over, but people may still have options to get health coverage, including buying a private health plan through the Marketplace if a person qualifies for a special enrollment period.
Also, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said, people can apply for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) any time, all year.
The agency said to qualify for a special enrollment period, one of the following must apply:
• Have a qualifying life event like getting married, having a baby, moving to a new area, or losing other health coverage.
• Having have a complex situation related to applying for coverage in the Health Insurance Marketplace. Learn more about these special circumstances.
The agency said to find out if they qualify for a special enrollment period, a person can start the Marketplace application, which will make the determination and notify the application on whether they can continue the process.