As part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it is again lowering the cost of health insurance and opening more pathways for Americans to obtain affordable and comprehensive health coverage.
Starting July 1, 2021, consumers who received or are approved to receive unemployment compensation for any week beginning in 2021 may be able to find even lower cost plans and save extra money on out-of-pocket expenses through HealthCare.gov. To take advantage of these additional savings, consumers who received or have been approved for unemployment compensation in 2021 need to visit HealthCare.gov to submit a new application or update their existing application to maximize the savings they can get for the rest of 2021.
An average of three out of five eligible uninsured Americans can access $0 plans after advance payments of tax credits and an average of four out of five current HealthCare.gov consumers will be able to find a plan for $10 or less per month after advance payments of tax credits. CMS encourages current consumers who have received unemployment income for any week beginning in 2021 to update their application and enrollment between July 1 and August 15 to maximize the savings on their Marketplace coverage for the rest of the year.
Additionally, as a result of the Special Enrollment Period for the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, consumers can continue to apply for coverage, compare plan offerings, or learn if they qualify for more affordable premiums by visiting HealthCare.gov or CuidadoDeSalud.gov through August 15. Consumers can view 2021 plans and prices and submit an application to see if they are eligible for enrollment and financial assistance. If eligible, they can enroll in a plan that best meets their needs. Current enrollees should review their application, make any updates needed to their current information, submit their application, and then select a new plan or reselect their current plan to receive the increased savings under the ARP.
