Obamacare sign-ups soar to record 16.3 million for 2023

[question everything]

A record 16.3 million people flocked to the Affordable Care Act exchanges for 2023 coverage, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said Wednesday.

Open enrollment on the federal exchange and most state marketplaces ran from November 1 to January 15. But those who lose health insurance coverage, have a qualifying life change or have very low incomes can obtain policies throughout the year through special enrollment periods.

Sign-ups on the federal exchange, healthcare.gov, have skyrocketed nearly 50% since the Biden administration took office in 2021, thanks in large part to enhanced federal premium subsidies and increased outreach efforts. Plan selections are up 13% from this time last year.

“The savings are real. The benefits are real,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.

The spike in coverage helped drive the nation’s uninsured rate to an all-time low of 8% in the first quarter of 2022.

Some 3.6 million people – or 22% – were new to Obamacare coverage for this year, while the rest were existing enrollees who picked 2023 policies or were automatically reenrolled.

More..

https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/25/politics/aca-enrollment-2023/index.html

[Deuxcents]

1. Hmmm..gonna do some homework...

My retirement benefits center is telling us they will only cover us with United Health Advantage plans in 2024. I do not want private Medicare so..I will be on the hunt for the first time in my adult life for health care. I’m not looking forward to this..

[BigmanPigman]

3. I have spent well over 200 hours during the past 10 years

trying to familiarize myself with the ever changing health care/insur BS. It is non-stop. My state (CA) insurance companies' health insur changes constantly. It is beyond ridiculous. My sister is finally dealing with the health care BS and realizing that I have not exaggerated the BS I have had to endure, year after year since 2013. Those who have spouses with insurance and those who are of a certain age have completely different experiences when it come to any/all health care in the US. It is mayhem for those who don't.

[Deuxcents]

5. Welll..that's encouraging..another factor is age..I'm in for an adventure, I know

[MiniMe]

7. I would think you are eligible for Medicare no matter what

Sounds like United Health Advantage is trying to force them to try to get you on their advantage plan. You definitely need a supplemental plan along with your Medicare, but you get to pick your supplemental plan. I don't like and don't trust Advantage plans, they are just trying to get rid of Medicare. I just went through this in August. Good luck!

[BigmanPigman]

9. Nope, I am one of the unlucky ones who falls through

the cracks of our health care system in this wonderful country. I am also even luckier since I worked in a state (CA) which has Social Security Offset which means that even though I worked and accumulated enough "credits" to be elligible for Social Security I will receive only 10% of what I would recieve in a different state. CA is one of 13 states under Reagun who went with this program. I worked and paid into SS for my entire life until I had to go back to college in my early 30s to obtain my second degree to become a teacher since art careers were/are nonexistent. After putting myself through college and sunstituting for 2 hellish years I got a teaching contract only to learn that what I had paid into SS I would NOT be able to get when I retired. A fellow teacher at my school site, who took 3 months off each year to make more money doing other people's tax returns, was not even aware of this problem. When I told him that I wouldn't recieve SS he didn't believe me until he checked into it and found out that I was correct. Talk about rip offs and injustices...this is the cherry on the top of the shit sundae!!! I went from an illustrator, to a teacher to being almost killed by a poor school buildings/mold with permanant health damage as a result. Do I just LOVE our system of doing things in this country.....NO I DON'T!!!

[MiniMe]

16. Well, that totally sucks!

Of course, the repukes are trying to get rid of both Social Security and Medicare, so we all may join you in that boat.

[BigmanPigman]

17. I am able to get some of

what I put into it but not nearly what I would be getting in a different area of the country. Fortunately, I have my teacher's retirement plan for CA and it is keeping me alive. Some people double and triple dip into various retirement plans that overlap from their spouses, the military and other pensions systems but I don't have that back-up. I know some people who have this back-up and they don't realize how lucky they are. If it weren't for the ACA I would literally be dead right now.

[Skittles]

8. WTF kind of fucking SCAM is that

UGH

https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/medicare-advantage-coverage-is-rising-for-the-declining-share-of-medicare-beneficiaries-with-retiree-health-benefits/

[zipplewrath]

2. Good thing there's a mandate

Oh, wait....

[Ron Green]

4. A single risk pool is a health care system. Multiple risk pools is an investment scheme.

We have enough investment schemes in this country; we need a health care system.

Anything calling itself “Medicare” (a public program) while being private insurance is fraud.

[Deuxcents]

6. I don't understand how they can get away w/ it..I've heard different reasons

There is a bill being discussed on this issue..save Medicare..or something on that order as I’ve heard on a Thom Hartmann’s Sirius program with Rep Pocan but it takes forever n slowly the private companies are strangling the Original Medicare. I won’t be around to see any real change but in the meantime..I’ll carry on

[progree]

14. Yup, the Save Medicare Act

https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-khanna-introduce-bill-to-strengthen-medicare-define-alternative

Ahead of the Medicare Open Enrollment period, U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Ro Khanna (CA-17) are introducing the “Save Medicare Act” to rename so-called “Medicare Advantage” plans, prohibit private insurers from using “Medicare” in plan titles or advertisements, and impose significant fines for any insurer that engages in this deceptive practice.

“Only Medicare is Medicare. It is one of the most popular and important services the government provides,” Rep. Pocan said. “We should be working to expand this service to include coverage for dental, vision, and hearing care, as well as looking at ways to strengthen it rather than allowing these ‘Medicare Advantage’ programs to provide pale alternatives to what Medicare does. These non-Medicare plans run by private insurers undermine traditional Medicare. They often leave patients without the benefits they need while overcharging the federal government for corporate profit. This bill eliminates any confusion about what is – and what is not – Medicare, and ensures this essential program will continue to serve seniors and other Americans for years to come.”

“‘Medicare Advantage’ is just private insurance that profits by denying coverage and the name is being used to trick seniors into enrolling. That’s not right,” said Rep. Khanna. “This bill will prevent these private insurers from labeling themselves as ‘Medicare’ and allow us to focus on strengthening and expanding real Medicare instead.”

...

[Deuxcents]

15. Yes, thank you..that's what I was referring to..

[republianmushroom]

11. good

[docgee]

12. With insurance companies like Aetna around, it's no wonder.

Worst fucking insurance in America.

[Martin68]

13. Let's hear it for Obamacare!