HHS Will Spend $50M on Outreach for Special Enrollment Period

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and CMS announced that the Biden Administration would spend $50 million to advertise the special enrollment period.

“We’re delivering lower health care costs to more Americans because everyone deserves access to quality, affordable health care. Today help is here and millions of Americans can start saving money on their health insurance premiums thanks to the American Rescue Plan,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.

“The Biden Administration is committed to bringing down health care costs for families. Consumers can save money by visiting HealthCare.gov and choosing a plan that works for them and their budget. HHS will be reaching out to encourage Americans to use the Special Enrollment Period to sign up for quality, affordable coverage through HealthCare.gov.”

CMS has launched an educational campaign for the uninsured and those eligible for lower premiums. Resources include broadcast and digital advertising and leverages email and text communications.

The campaign will run through August 15, 2021.

The announcement estimated that, due to premium tax credits, premiums on the Affordable Care Act marketplace could drop by on average $50 per person per month and $85 per policy per month. Around 80 percent of those who enroll through the federal health insurance marketplace will have access to a health plan that costs $10 or less per month.

Around 60 percent of those who enroll through the federal health insurance marketplace could access a zero-premium plan. Approximately 75 percent of enrollees could find a plan that is $50 or less per month.

Changes to current enrollees’ plans will go into effect the month after an enrollee has made the switch to a lower cost marketplace health plan.

Due to the passage of the American Rescue Plan, 14.9 million Americans who are uninsured can access financial support to find a health plan on the Affordable Care Act marketplace, an HHS fact sheet stated.

The announcement comes after the Biden administration extended the special enrollment period by three months. The original timeframe ran from February 15 through May 15, 2021. With the extended timeline, enrollees and potential enrollees will be able to choose a health plan on the marketplace through August 15, 2021.

In the first two weeks of the special enrollment period, over 200,000 individuals signed up for coverage on the federal health insurance marketplace.

Starting on April 1, 2021, consumers will have access to higher premium tax credits as a result of the American Rescue Plan.

"Every day, we’re working to make the consumer experience even better, streamlining HealthCare.gov and providing the help and support consumers want in order to understand their options and pick the right plan for their families,” the fact sheet stated.