BY BTL STAFF
In recognition of the anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (or "Obamacare"), federal officials announced new localized enrollment data and provided specific results from the first five years of the ACA.
Nationwide, more than 16.4 million people have gained coverage since the ACA passed — the largest reduction in the uninsured in four decades. Since October 2013, over 700,000 Michiganders have received medical health care coverage through the Marketplace, Medicaid and CHIP program. Of the 340,000 Michigan consumers who selected a plan through the Marketplace, 87 percent received financial assistance to help pay for the plan. Two years later there are now 16 different insurance companies that offer individual plans at different levels of coverage.
"Since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law five years ago, over 340,000 people in Michigan have finally been given the peace of mind knowing that they have health insurance," said U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow. "While we have more work to do to make sure the law works in the most effective way, it is unconscionable that we would turn our backs on families in Michigan by repealing the law or taking away the tax credits that make premiums affordable."
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released enrollment data for the following Michigan cities: 12,874 consumers in the Ann Arbor area; 12,954 consumers in the Lansing and East Lansing areas; 10,719 consumers in the Kalamazoo-Portage area; 10,949 consumers in the Flint area; 5,747 consumers in the Niles-Benton Harbor area; 5,183 consumers in the Saginaw area; 5,067 consumers in the Muskegon area; 4,199 consumers in the Jackson area; and 3,882 consumers in the Monroe area selected or were automatically enrolled in a plan.
"Five years after passage of the Affordable Care Act, access to care has expanded across the country, the number of uninsured continues to drop and the cost of health care is growing at the slowest rate in five decades," said U.S. Senator Gary Peters. "It's clear this law is having a tangible, positive impact on Michigan's families and our state's economy. While there are common sense fixes that can be made, we cannot afford to roll back this progress and go back to a time when people could get kicked off their insurance plans or denied critical coverage because of a pre-existing condition."
In a 2014 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index Poll, LGBT people were anywhere from 8 to 10 percent more likely to be uninsured or lack a personal doctor than their straight counterparts. They also experienced more hurdles accessing health insurance and resources.
"We are aware that the LGBT individuals have long faced barriers for obtaining health care. We know that the community faces higher rates of non insurance and discrimination in the healthcare system," Erin Knott, Michigan state director of Get Covered America, told BTL before the Second Enrollment Period back in October. "I know several lesbian women who have not sought out health screenings because of that stigma or the fear of being discriminated against. I have tried to train staff and volunteers in LGBT history and the experience among the LGBT community by raising awareness when working with folks."
In Michigan, 341,183 consumers selected plans or were automatically re-enrolled in quality, affordable health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace as of Feb. 22, according to HHS. Additionally, eight out of 10 Michiganders could select a Marketplace plan for $100 or less per month, and a vast majority of enrollees received an average tax credit of $240.
"Nationwide, nearly 11.7 million consumers enrolled or re-enrolled in coverage this year. This historic enrollment number shows that the American people know the ACA is working for them," said U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region 5 Director Kathleen Falk. "Thanks to the ACA, people can no longer be denied health insurance because of a pre-existing condition, healthcare spending is increasing at the lowest rate in 50 years and people no longer need to worry about being one illness away from bankruptcy."
Open enrollment in the Marketplace has ended, but a Special Enrollment Period is now available to consumers who are subject to the fee for not having health care coverage in 2014.
