Federal Health Insurance Marketplace Opens for COVID-19 Emergency

Federal Health Insurance Marketplace Reopens for COVID-19 Emergency

February 15 – May 15, 2021

For people who have been without health insurance, you have a 3-month window to buy a Marketplace plan at healthcare.gov. In January, 2021, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to open up the federal health insurance marketplace for three months starting February 15, 2021. Those who have a marketplace plan can also change their plan during this time.

29% of Americans lost their health insurance in 2020; more than half remain uninsured in 2021

The pandemic has created a public health emergency with more than 30 million uninsured. 3 in 10 Americans lost health insurance coverage in 2020, and more than half haven’t bought new coverage and remain uninsured in 2021 according to a new ValuePenguin.com Healthcare Survey.

Losing health insurance coverage was exceptionally high for those who were laid off or furloughed due to the coronavirus pandemic — nearly one in 10 (9%) remain uninsured. Furthermore, 50% of Gen Z respondents indicated they lost health insurance coverage at some point during 2020, which was the most among all age groups.

You have from February 15 through May 15 to enroll in or change your Health Insurance Marketplace® due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency.

Medicaid and Kids Care (CHIP) enrollment are available year-round for those who qualify and Native Americans can enroll in plans through the exchange year-round. Here’s more about special provisions in the ACA that apply to Native Americans.

Financial Assistance at Canyonlands Healthcare

Canyonlands offers special programs designed to improve access to care for those who face financial barriers and need assistance. Canyonlands Healthcare has been designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and as such is supported by federal grants under the U.S. Public Health Service Act.

Canyonlands Healthcare offers a sliding fee program designed to make quality health care available to people who lack adequate insurance and have limited income. Qualifying members of the program have access to all the quality health care services at Canyonlands Healthcare locations at a reduced rate.

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Eligibility for Subsidies

In general, you may be eligible for tax credits to lower your Marketplace premium if you are single and your annual 2020 income is between $12,490 to $49,960 or if your household income is between $21,330 to $85,320 for a family of three (the lower income limits are higher in states that expanded Medicaid).

Is there a penalty for not having insurance?

There is no federal government penalty for being uninsured in 2021. The ACA’s federal individual mandate penalty has been $0 since the start of 2019, and that will continue to be the case in 2021.

Questions about open enrollment? View the Healthcare.gov Open Enrollment 2021 Guide.

Can you get coverage if you have a pre-existing condition?

Yes. Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurance companies can’t refuse to cover you or charge you more just because you have a “pre-existing condition” — that is, a health problem you had before the date that new health coverage starts. They also can’t charge women more than men.

The only exception to the pre-existing coverage rule is for grandfathered individual health insurance plans not sold through the Marketplace.

Before the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies could deny you coverage if you had a pre-existing condition. That affected 50 million people, including 17 million children.

Medicare Enrollment

The next open enrollment for Medicare will be in October, 2021. Medicare is for people who are (a) over 65 years of age, (b) under age 65 and have a qualifying disability and (c) any age with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).