Job losses drive HealthCare.gov sign-ups

ROUGHLY 487,000 PEOPLE signed up for an Affordable Care Act exchange plan after losing other health coverage since the last open enrollment ended in December, CMS reported last week. That’s about 46% higher than sign-ups during the same period last year.

Sign-ups through a special enrollment period for people who lost minimum essential coverage rose sharply during April and remained high in May.

“While the magnitude may be unclear, job losses due to COVID-19 have led to increased enrollments on HealthCare. gov,” CMS said in its report.

People who lose job-based minimum essential health coverage or experience another life event, such as getting married or moving to a new ZIP code, qualify for a special enrollment period to sign up for a HealthCare.gov plan.

The COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn that have left 20 million people unemployed was expected to result in a large number of people losing health insurance.

According to CMS, 154,000 people chose a plan through a loss-of-coverage special enrollment period in April, up 140% compared with April 2019. The trend continued into May, when 103,000 people signed up, an increase of about 43% over the same month last year.

Health insurers, providers and consumer advocacy groups have urged the Trump administration to open a national special enrollment period during the public health emergency to offer coverage to anyone needing it. Most states that run their own exchanges have done so. In California, 175,000 have signed up for an exchange plan during the state’s special enrollment period, which has been extended through July. More than 43,000 signed up during Maryland’s special enrollment, which was also extended. The Trump administration has not heeded requests for a national special enrollment. CMS said the new data show that people who lost their jobs or experienced other qualifying events are taking advantage of existing rules. It noted that Bureau of Labor Statistics data show that many job losses have been temporary, so some may be able to keep their job-based coverage.

In total, more than 892,000 people enrolled in HealthCare.gov plans from mid-December through May for any of the triggers, compared to 704,106 signups in 2019.