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2021 Special Enrollment Period Access Extended to August 15
on HealthCare.gov for Marketplace Coverage
Last week, President Biden
announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS) is extending access to the Special Enrollment Period
(SEP) until August 15 – giving consumers additional time to
take advantage of new savings through the American Rescue
Plan. This action provides new and current enrollees an
additional three months to enroll or re-evaluate their
coverage needs with increased tax credits available to
reduce premiums.
“Every American deserves
access to quality, affordable health care – especially as we
fight back against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said HHS
Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Through this Special Enrollment
Period, the Biden Administration is giving the American
people the chance they need to find an affordable health
care plan that works for them. The American Rescue Plan will
bring costs down for millions of Americans, and I encourage
consumers to visit HealthCare.gov and sign up for a plan
before August 15.”
As a result of the American
Rescue Plan, additional savings will be available for
consumers through HealthCare.gov starting April 1. These
savings will decrease premiums for many, on average, by $50
per person per month and $85 per policy per month. On
average, one out of four enrollees on HeathCare.gov will be
able to upgrade to a higher plan category that offers better
out of pocket costs at the same or lower premium compared to
what they’re paying today.
Consumers who want to access
the SEP to enroll in coverage and see if they qualify for
financial help to reduce the cost of monthly premiums, can
visit HealthCare.gov
Consumers who are eligible
and enroll under the SEP will be able to select a plan with
coverage that could start as soon as the first month after
plan selection. Current enrollees will be able to change to
any plan available to them in their area. To take advantage
of the SEP, current enrollees should review their
application and make changes, if needed, to their current
information and submit their application in order to receive
an updated eligibility result.
Additionally, beginning in
early July on HealthCare.gov, consumers who have received or
have been determined eligible to receive unemployment
compensation for any week during 2021 may be able to get
another increase in savings when enrolling in new
Marketplace coverage or updating their existing Marketplace
application and enrollment. These savings to be made
available starting in early July for eligible consumers are
in addition to the increased savings available to consumers
on HealthCare.gov starting April 1.
The SEP is currently
available to consumers in the 36 states that use the
HealthCare.gov. Consumers served by State-based Marketplaces
that use their own platform can check their state’s website
to find out more information on Special Enrollment Periods
in their state.
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