ACA health insurance still available

The Affordable Care Act’s days may be numbered, but open enrollment in the program, popularly known as “Obamacare,” remains available through Jan. 31, 2017. New or existing enrollees may enroll, re-enroll or change their 2017 insurance plans at www.healthcare.gov.

“It’s business as usual," said Patty Embry-Tautenham, chief spokeswoman for Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, the only provider offering coverage through the public exchange. Embry-Tautenham said that while premiums have increased, most enrollees in South Carolina will qualify for assistance to meet the cost of premiums.

“Eight out of 10 people who sign up on the public exchange qualify for subsidies,” she said.

Coverage can begin as soon as Jan. 1 for those who enroll or re-enroll by Dec. 15, she said. For those who enroll from Dec. 15 through Jan. 15, coverage will begin Feb. 1, and for those who enroll from Jan. 16 to Jan. 31, coverage will begin March 1, she said.

Four weeks into this year’s open enrollment period, more than 2.1 million people have selected plans using the HealthCare.gov platform since open enrollment began on Nov. 1, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. That includes more than 500,000 new consumers and 1.6 million consumers renewing their coverage.

Enrollments for these two weeks represent an increase of 167,000 plan selections versus the third and fourth weeks of open enrollment last year, CMMS reported.

“I hear from people across the country just how much coverage matters to them, so I continue to encourage all Americans who need health insurance for 2017 to visit HealthCare.gov and check out their options,” Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell said.

For more information, visit www.healthcare.gov.