Friday is the last day to enroll to ensure coverage for January 2024
Belgrade, MAINE – During a visit to Belgrade Regional Health Center today, Governor Mills reminded Maine residents who lack affordable health coverage that Friday, December 15, 2023, is the deadline to sign up through CoverME.gov, Maine’s health insurance marketplace, for an affordable health plan that starts at the beginning of the new year.
The Governor urged Maine people to act to prevent gaps in coverage that could result in barriers to health care or unaffordable bills. Maine people who sign up by 11:59 p.m. Friday will have coverage effective on January 1, 2024.
Consumers who enroll after Friday’s deadline will miss coverage for January 2024 but – if they sign up by January 16 – will qualify for health insurance that takes effect on February 1, 2024.
U.S. health care spending grew 4.1% to reach $4.5 trillion in 2022, faster than the increase of 3.2% in 2021, but much slower than the rate of 10.6% in 2020. The growth in 2022 reflected strong growth in Medicaid and private health insurance spending that was somewhat offset by continued declines in supplemental funding by the federal government associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Assuming the U.S. population is ~335 million, that averages out to around $13,432 apiece.
In 2022, the insured share of the population reached 92% (a historic high).Private health insurance enrollment increased by 2.9 million individuals and Medicaid enrollment increased by 6.1 million individuals. In 2022, 26.6 million individuals were uninsured, down from 28.5 million in 2021 (a difference of 1.9 million individuals).
The Supreme Court issued a decision on Friday evening that maintained the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of a commonly used abortion pill while an appeal moves forward, the latest development in a fast-moving legal battle that followed a lower court’s ruling that ordered the drug pulled off the market.
Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. had paused the lower court’s ruling on the pill, mifepristone, but that freeze had been set to expire at midnight. The justices issued their decision about five hours before the deadline.
Apply by Dec. 15 to have insurance starting Jan. 1, or by Jan. 15 for a health plan beginning Feb. 1
Washingtonians who need health insurance coverage for 2024 can shop for plans and may gain access to federal and state subsidies on wahealthplanfinder.org, now through Jan. 15.
People who pick a plan before midnight on Dec. 15 will have coverage starting on Jan. 1, 2024.
OLYMPIA, Wash. – The deadline to enroll in a 2024 health plan through Washington Healthplanfinder with a Jan. 1 start date is approaching fast. All Washingtonians, regardless of immigration status, can visit waheathplanfinder.org by midnight on Dec. 15 to shop, compare and sign-up for a health or dental plan for 2024. Help through the Customer Support Center will be available from 7:30 a.m. to midnight on Dec. 15.
Indianapolis – The Indiana Department of Insurance is issuing a warning to Hoosiers seeking health insurance coverage through the Federal Marketplace. The department advises caution regarding websites offering rewards like debit or cash cards in exchange for signing up through them. These “lead generating” websites collect users’ personal information and may provide inaccurate information about insurance coverage. The department urges Indiana residents to exercise skepticism regarding third-party websites promoting marketplace health plans and incentives.
“Consumers should verify information directly through official marketplace resources before entering any personal details or selecting a plan,” stated Alexandria Peck, Indiana Department of Insurance Chief Deputy Commissioner of Compliance. If you suspect fraud, contact the Indiana Attorney General’s office.
Action required by Dec. 15 for Pennsylvanians seeking health coverage that will start Jan. 1, 2024.
Pennsylvanians are encouraged to visit Pennie, PA’s health insurance marketplace, to get the lowest costs on high-quality coverage.
Harrisburg, PA — Today, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis joined Pennsylvania Insurance Department Commissioner Mike Humphreys, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh, Pennie Executive Director Devon Trolley and community health experts for a news conference at the Hamilton Health Center in Harrisburg to remind Pennsylvanians of Pennie’s first open enrollment deadline, Dec. 15, 2023, which is the last day to enroll in health coverage that will start Jan. 1, 2024.
Enrollees in Public Health Insurance Programs Must Take Steps to Renew their Coverage for 2024
New Yorkers Shopping for Qualified Health Plans Can Enroll by December 15 for
Coverage Starting January 1
ALBANY, N.Y. (December 8, 2023) – NY State of Health, the state's official health plan Marketplace, is working together with food pantries to help New Yorkers fight food insecurity and help them access high-quality, low-cost health insurance for the seventh consecutive holiday season. NY State of Health’s annual open enrollment period for Qualified Health Plans started November 16 and consumers who enroll by December 15 will have health coverage starting January 1, 2024.
For ten years now, I've had Google Alerts set up to send me links to stories about the Affordable Care Act using various commonly-used phrases like "health exchanges" and such. Normally these bring up the most recent articles about the law, but last night one of them included a surprising link to a Reuters article from...March 2013:
Washington could wind up running more health exchanges - official
March 14, 2013
...The Obama administration has given 17 of the 50 states conditional approval to set up online exchanges where working families would purchase private plans at subsidized rates. The remaining 33 states will all have federally run markets, at least in the early years of the coming reform era.
But Gary Cohen, who spearheads exchange implementation for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said some of the approved states face hurdles that could require Washington to step in with federal exchanges before open enrollment starts on Oct. 1.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — MNsure, Minnesota’s official health insurance marketplace, is encouraging Minnesotans who need health insurance for 2024 to finish their enrollment now and not wait for the last days before the December 15 deadline to sign up. MNsure’s Contact Center is open Saturday, December 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturdays historically have lower call volumes and shorter wait times.
“Comprehensive coverage through MNsure helps protect your family from the unexpected, like high medical bills from an illness you can’t anticipate,” said MNsure CEO Libby Caulum. “Signing up for a full year of health insurance through MNsure today is one of the greatest gifts you can give your family.”
