Overview
- CMS reports 22.8 million plan selections through early January, about 800,000 fewer than the same point last year, in data that predates final open-enrollment deadlines in many states.
- Illinois, now operating its own Get Covered Illinois exchange, pushed its cutoff to Jan. 31 for coverage starting Feb. 1, exercising flexibility not available on Healthcare.gov.
- The U.S. House approved a three-year extension of enhanced ACA subsidies and sent the measure to the Senate, and President Donald Trump has said he might veto such a bill.
- With the enhanced subsidies expiring Dec. 31, analysts expect average out-of-pocket premiums to more than double without new legislation, driving many consumers to cheaper bronze plans or out of the market.
- Experts caution that early selections may overstate actual paid coverage, with additional attrition likely as first bills arrive and final effectuated enrollment not known until later in the year.