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President Biden Signs Executive Order Opening a Special
Enrollment Period for Obamacare
Special to The Truth
The Biden-Harris
Administration has opened a Special Enrollment Period for
Americans to sign up for health coverage and roll back
attacks on the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, and access to
reproductive health care
After four years of attempts
by the previous administration to strip health care from
millions of Americans, President Biden signed two executive
actions that will begin to restore and strengthen Americans’
access to quality, affordable health care.
The Biden-Harris administration will re-open enrollment to
the Health Insurance Marketplace, take additional steps to
strengthen Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, and protect
women’s health.
The White House said that these actions demonstrate a strong
commitment by the Biden-Harris Administration to protect and
build on the Affordable Care Act, meet the health care needs
created by the pandemic, reduce health care costs, protect
access to reproductive health care, and make our health care
system easier to navigate and more equitable.
“For President Biden, this
is personal,” the White House noted in a statement released
last week. “He believes that every American has a right to
the peace of mind that comes with knowing they have access
to affordable, quality no longer have to worry that an
insurance company will deny coverage or charge higher
premiums just because they have a pre-existing condition.
Roughly 20 million additional Americans obtained the
security that comes with health insurance, and young people
transitioning from school to a job can stay covered by their
parents’ plan until age 26.
“As we continue to battle
COVID-19, it is even more critical that Americans have
meaningful access to affordable care. The actions the
President is taking today complement the commitment he made
in the American Rescue Plan to make health insurance
coverage more affordable for millions of Americans. Reliable
and affordable access to health insurance doesn’t just
benefit families’ health; it is a critical source of
economic security and peace of mind for all.”
Last week’s actions
included:
Strengthening Medicaid and
the Affordable Care Act. This Executive Order takes critical
steps to reverse attacks on and strengthen Medicaid and the
Affordable Care Act, so they can continue to provide access
to life-saving care for millions of Americans. Based on this
Executive Order, it is expected that the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) will open HealthCare.gov for
a “Special Enrollment Period,” from February 15, 2021 - May
15, 2021. This Special Enrollment Period will give Americans
that need health care coverage during this global pandemic
the opportunity to sign up.
The President also directed
federal agencies to reconsider rules and other policies that
limit Americans’ access to health care, and consider actions
that will protect and strengthen that access.
Agencies are directed to
re-examine:
* Policies that undermine
protections for people with pre-existing conditions,
including complications related to COVID-19;
* Demonstrations and waivers
under Medicaid and the ACA that may reduce coverage or
undermine the programs, including work requirements;
* Policies that undermine
the Health Insurance Marketplace or other markets for health
insurance;
* Policies that make it more
difficult to enroll in Medicaid and the ACA; and
* Policies that reduce
affordability of coverage or financial assistance, including
for dependents.
As part of their reviews,
agencies will consider whether to take additional actions to
strengthen and protect access to health care.
Protecting Women’s Health at
Home and Abroad. Across the country and around the world,
people -- particularly women, Black, Indigenous and other
people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and those with low incomes
-- have been denied access to reproductive health care.
President Biden is also issuing a Presidential Memorandum to
protect and expand access to comprehensive reproductive
health care. The memorandum reflects the policy of the
Biden-Harris Administration to support women's and girls'
sexual and reproductive health and rights in the United
States, as well as globally.
As with memoranda issued by President Clinton and President
Obama before him, it immediately rescinds the global gag
rule, also referred to as the Mexico City Policy, which bars
international non-profits that provide abortion counseling
or referrals from receiving U.S. funding. In recognition of
the additional work necessary to protect access to
reproductive health care, President Biden’s memorandum also
directs the Department
of Health and Human Services
to take immediate action to consider whether to rescind
regulations under its Title X family planning program.
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