CMS: 15.9M Enrollees Have Selected ACA Marketplace Plans for 2023

Nearly 16 million people have enrolled in Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans since the 2023 marketplace open enrollment period began, including 3.1 million new enrollees and 12.8 million returning enrollees, CMS announced.

The latest data snapshot shows activity through January 7, 2023, for the 33 marketplaces using HealthCare.gov and through December 31, 2022, for the 18 state-based marketplaces in 17 states and the District of Columbia.

ACA marketplace enrollment has increased by 1.8 million people, or 13 percent, compared to last year.

Among the 15.9 million enrollees, 3.1 million, or 20 percent, are new to the marketplaces for 2023, while 12.8 million people, or 80 percent, had coverage in 2022 and enrolled in marketplace coverage again for 2023.

Nearly 12 million people made plan selections in the marketplaces that use HealthCare.gov, 2.6 million of whom are new enrollees and 9.2 million returning enrollees. Meanwhile, four million enrollees selected a plan in a state-based marketplace, where states operate their own eligibility and enrollment platforms. Most of these enrollees (3.5 million) were returning consumers, and almost 500,000 were new to the marketplace.

“The Biden-Harris Administration has made expanding access to health insurance a key priority, and we are thrilled to see so many Americans enrolling in Affordable Care Act plans this year,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a press release.

The Inflation Reduction Act, which expanded enhanced premium subsidies for three years, has helped increase access to affordable coverage. Four out of five HealthCare.gov enrollees can find coverage for $10 per month or less, Becerra shared.

The two states with the highest enrollment were Florida, with 3.1 million plan selections, and Texas, with 2.3 million selections. Both states use HealthCare.gov for their ACA marketplace.

California, which operates a state-based marketplace, followed with 1.7 million plan selections since the open enrollment period started.

“We continue to see historic enrollment numbers due to increased financial assistance from the Inflation Reduction Act and new eligibility for families, but we’re not done yet,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “The Marketplace Open Enrollment Period isn’t over yet. There is still time to enroll or find a new plan for yourself or your family. I encourage all those looking for affordable, quality health care, or interested in exploring their options, to visit HealthCare.gov before the final deadline on January 15.”

Coverage selected on HealthCare.gov by January 15 will go into effect starting February 1. Enrollment deadlines for state-based marketplaces may differ and can be found here.

ACA enrollment during the 2023 open enrollment period has been exceeding 2022 trends. In November 2022, the number of signups through HealthCare.gov was up by 40 percent compared to the same time in 2021, HHS shared.

Additionally, as of the December 15 deadline, ACA enrollment was up by 18 percent from last year, with 11.5 million people signing up for coverage.