Joe Biden

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: One Million Americans Sign Up for Health Care Coverage During 2021 Special Enrollment

May 11, 2021

Today, President Biden announced a milestone for the special enrollment period the Administration opened because of the pandemic: more than one million Americans have signed up for health insurance in less than three months.

President Biden reasserted his belief that health care is a right – not a privilege – and that ensuring every single American has access to quality, affordable care is a national imperative. He also noted that because of the American Rescue Plan, 4 out of 5 people can now buy a plan for less than $10 a month, and that the American Families Plan could make those premium reductions permanent – lowering millions of American families' monthly health care costs.

Joining President Biden, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra reminded Americans to sign up for health coverage at HealthCare.gov or CuidadoDeSalud.gov by August 15 to find a plan that works for them.

See below for what leaders are saying and helping get more Americans enrolled:

"On top of the one million who just got insured, there are two million Americans who got their care through Obamacare, who went back to the HealthCare.gov site and found out they were able to reduce their premiums and out-of-pocket costs as a result of the American Rescue Plan the president put out there."
--HHS Secretary Becerra on MSNBC with Stephanie Ruhle

--Deputy Assistant to the President and Domestic Policy Council Deputy Director for Health and Veteran Affairs Christen Young Linke on KYTX-TV (CBS Longview, TX)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: "The ACA protects more than 130 million Americans with preexisting conditions and provides coverage for more than 20 million – including 1 million new enrollees from the Special Enrollment Period during covid. #GetCovered now at http://healthcare.gov!" [Tweet 5/11/21]

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer: "I am very glad to see that more than 1 million Americans have enrolled in health coverage during the 2021 special enrollment period. I encourage folks to visit http://HealthCare.gov before the enrollment period ends on August 15th to find a plan that works for you." [Tweet, 5/11/21]

Arizona Congressman Greg Stanton: "ONE MILLION Americans have signed up for coverage at http://HealthCare.gov during the special enrollment period. And under the #AmericanRescuePlan, average monthly premiums have gone down by more than 40%. #GetCovered—enrollment is open through Aug. 15!" [Tweet, 5/11/21]

Illinois Congresswoman Lauren Underwood: "Over 1 million Americans have gained health insurance during @POTUS Biden's ACA Special Enrollment Period! For people like Audree, who lost insurance due to the #COVID19 pandemic, this means she's able to #GetCovered with way more affordable coverage than before. The #AmericanRescuePlan included my bill to lower health care costs by reducing out-of-pocket premiums for plans offered on the Marketplace. But, now, we must work to permanently lower health care costs by passing the Health Care Affordability Act into law. Check http://HealthCare.gov today to see what new, lower cost options may be available to you." [Tweet Thread, 5/11/21]

Illinois Congresswoman Robin Kelly: "On February 15, the Biden Administration opened http://HealthCare.gov to provide all Americans the opportunity to sign up for health insurance through a special enrollment period thru Aug. 15.

Three months later, a million Americans have signed up." [Tweet, 5/11/21]

Michigan Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence: "Great news! The ACA continues to provide critical coverage to millions of Americans and I'm thrilled that so many people are taking advantage of the special enrollment period. Sign up by August 15 and #GetCovered at http://healthcare.gov." [Tweet, 5/11/21]

Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens: "Since @POTUS announced the Special Enrollment period, 1 million Americans have signed up for health care. That's 1 million Americans with the peace of mind they are covered. Head to http://HealthCare.gov to find a plan that's right for you!" [Tweet, 5/11/21]

New Jersey Congressman Tom Malinowski: "1 million Americans have signed up for health care coverage through the #AffordableCareAct during the special enrollment period established by @POTUS. New Jerseyans can sign up by visiting http://GetCovered.NJ.Gov." [Tweet, 5/11/21]

New York Congressman Antonio Delgado: "More than one million Americans have signed up for Affordable Care Act coverage during the special enrollment period. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, every family deserves access to quality & affordable health care." [Tweet, 5/11/21]

Tennessee Congressman Jim Cooper: "More than 1 million Americans have signed up for health insurance during @POTUS' ACA Special Enrollment Period! Enroll or change your current plan now thru August 15: http://healthcare.gov" [Tweet, 5/11/21]

Virginia Congressman Bobby Scott: "Help Is Here! Thanks to the #AmericanRescuePlan and @POTUS, more people have access to quality, affordable health insurance. Be sure you and your family #GetCovered at http://HealthCare.gov" [Tweet, 5/11/21]

Virginia Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton: "Thanks to the ongoing special enrollment period & new subsidies we secured to reduce premiums in the #AmericanRescuePlan, accessing affordable health care is easier than ever. Head to http://HealthCare.gov by August 15 to find a plan that works for you." [Tweet, 5/11,21]

Wisconsin Congresswoman Gwen Moore: "Thanks to President Biden's open enrollment period, 1 million Americans now have health care! Democrats are committed to expanding access to quality, affordable health care and we'll keep building on this work. Get covered today at http://healthcare.gov!" [Tweet, 5/11/21]

Delaware Senator Tom Carper: "The Affordable Care Act has been a lifeline for millions of Americans – providing access to quality, affordable health insurance for more than a decade. Thanks to @POTUS's special enrollment period, one million more Americans now have the coverage they need." [Tweet, 5/11/21]

Washington Senator Patty Murray: "We can—and should—be doing everything in our power to get more people quality, affordable health care coverage, and thanks to a special enrollment period, that is a reality for more than 1 million more people." [Tweet, 5/11/21]

Nancy LeaMond, Executive Vice President, AARP: "One million and counting . . . the special enrollment period (Feb – August 15) and expanded subsidies are helping Americans get affordable health coverage. This is particularly important for millions of 50-64 year olds who don't get insurance through their employer." [Tweet, 5/11/21]

See below for media coverage of today's announcement:

Miami Herald: Florida accounts for nearly one-third of the country's new Obamacare sign-ups
[Alex Daughtery and Michael Wilner, 5/11/21]

Christen Young, deputy director of the Domestic Policy Council for Health Care at the White House, said … 'One thing that has been really interesting as we have been operating the special enrollment period is that the states with the highest levels of uninsured are the states where we are seeing the most activity with the special enrollment period. So states like Texas, and Florida, and South Carolina and North Carolina are among the states that have been doing the best in terms of getting new consumers in who are finding affordable coverage on healthcare.gov.'"

Associated Press: Biden: 1M sign up for health care during special enrollment
[5/11/21]

"President Joe Biden said Tuesday that 1 million Americans had signed up for health insurance under 'Obamacare' during a special enrollment period for those needing coverage during the coronavirus pandemic. Biden reopened the HealthCare.gov insurance markets in February for a special six-month sign-up opportunity that will go through Aug. 15. His coronavirus relief package also boosted taxpayer subsidies, making the coverage a much better deal for new and current customers."

Reuters: Biden: 1 million Americans sign up for healthcare in special enrollment period
[5/11/21]

"One million Americans have signed up for health insurance on the U.S. government website Healthcare.gov during a special enrollment period that began on Feb. 15, President Joe Biden said in a statement on Tuesday. Biden, a Democrat, re-opened the country's online health insurance marketplace earlier this year to give more Americans a chance to take advantage of benefits provided under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare."

WaPo: More than 1 million Americans have signed up for ACA health plans during special enrollment, Biden says
[John Wagner and Amy Goldstein, 5/11/21]

"More than 1 million Americans have signed up for Affordable Care Act health plans during a special pandemic-era enrollment period that began Feb. 15, Biden said in a statement Tuesday … He also used the milestone to urge Congress to 'act quickly' to pass the $1.8 trillion American Families Plan, which includes aid to make it cheaper for moderate-income families to buy health insurance, among many other provisions."

CNN: 1 million people sign up for Affordable Care Act coverage after Biden reopens exchange
[Tami Luhby, 5/11/21]

"One million people have signed up for Affordable Care Act coverage on the federal exchange during the special enrollment period that President Joe Biden launched in mid-February, the administration announced Tuesday … Under the American Rescue Plan, enrollees pay no more than 8.5% of their income toward coverage, down from nearly 10%. And lower-income policyholders receive subsidies that eliminate their premiums completely."

MSNBC: Biden's ACA special enrollment period reaches 1 million Americans
[Steve Benen, 5/11/21]
"Just one week after his inauguration, President Joe Biden did what his predecessor would not: he issued an executive order to create a special enrollment period through the Affordable Care Act, citing a need created by the pandemic. Donald Trump was expected to do something similar, but the Republican refused, because he didn't want people turning to 'Obamacare' for help during a crisis Following up on our earlier coverage, Biden's decision to do the right thing is paying off in dramatic ways."

USA Today: Obamacare sign-ups top 1 million during special enrollment period for COVID-19
[Maureen Groppe, 5/11/21]

"More than 1 million Americans signed up for health insurance during the ongoing special enrollment period for HealthCare.gov, the Biden administration announced Tuesday. That's on top of the about 12 million who selected 2021 coverage during the regular enrollment period that ended in December in most states. That level of enrollment could have a meaningful effect on the uninsured rate and could help President Joe Biden build support for the permanent changes he hopes to make to the 2010 Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare."

NBC News: Obamacare sign-ups reach 1 million during special enrollment window
[Phil Helsel, 5/11/21]

"One million people have signed up for health coverage under an Affordable Care Act special enrollment period announced earlier this year, officials said Tuesday … He called coverage through the law, sometimes called Obamacare, a lifeline for millions. Biden issued an executive order in late January to open a special enrollment period from Feb. 15 to May 15. The White House cited the pandemic in announcing the move."

Huffington Post: More Than 1 Million Have Signed Up For Coverage At HealthCare.Gov This Year
[Jonathan Cohn, 5/11/21]

"More than 1 million Americans have signed up for coverage at HealthCare.gov since February, taking advantage of an extended open enrollment period and new financial assistance that President Joe Biden and his Democratic allies put in place as part of the federal government's COVID-19 response. HealthCare.gov, the federally run online marketplace for people buying insurance on their own, exists because of the Affordable Care Act. In a prepared statement announcing the 1 million figure on Tuesday morning, Biden hailed the news as more proof that the health care law, also known as Obamacare, has become a 'lifeline' during the coronavirus pandemic."

The Hill: Biden announces 1 million have enrolled in special ObamaCare sign-up period
[Peter Sullivan, 5/11/21]

"President Biden announced on Tuesday that 1 million people have enrolled so far in Affordable Care Act coverage during a special sign-up period his administration created. Biden reopened ObamaCare enrollment upon taking office in January, a step that the Trump administration had declined to take after the COVID-19 pandemic began. Sign-ups are still ongoing until Aug. 15, and Biden urged more people to go to healthcare.gov to enroll."

Fox News: Biden says 1 million Americans signed up for health coverage during special enrollment
[Edmund DeMarche, 5/11/21]

"President Biden announced Tuesday that one million Americans signed up for health insurance through HealthCare.gov during a special enrollment period that started on Feb. 15. The White House issued a statement that also credited Biden's American Rescue Plan for lowering insurance premiums for nine million Americans. 'This milestone reinforces what we know to be true, there is a real demand for quality, affordable health care across the United States,' Biden said. The opportunity to sign up for the Affordable Care Act plans will be available until Aug. 15."

US News & World Report: Biden: 1M Sign Up for Health Insurance During Obamacare Special Enrollment Period
[Chelsea Cirruzzo, 5/11/21]

"A million people signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act in less than three months since the Biden administration reopened enrollment, the White House said Tuesday, adding that the numbers reinforce the need to further expand the health care law … The enrollment period remains open until Aug. 15. In his statement, Biden praised the latest COVID-19 relief package signed earlier this year that also subsidized health insurance premiums for low-income people through the marketplace for two years. Biden further called on Congress to take up his American Families Plan, a sweeping economic plan that would make the premium reduction permanent."

Joseph R. Biden, WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: One Million Americans Sign Up for Health Care Coverage During 2021 Special Enrollment Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/349881

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