Press Releases Nov 22, 2024

Over 496,000 New Consumers Selected Affordable Health Coverage in ACA Marketplace

ACA Marketplace National Enrollment snapshot  

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is committed to creating a robust Marketplace Open Enrollment process for consumers so they can effortlessly purchase high-quality, affordable health care coverage. CMS reports that 496,000[1] consumers who do not currently have health care coverage through the individual-market Marketplace have signed up for plan year 2025 coverage. 

During last year’s record-setting Open Enrollment Period, 21.4 million people signed up for coverage, driving the uninsured rate to a historic low, where it remains today. Consumers who have coverage now will see their coverage renewed for 2025 if they take no action during the current Open Enrollment Period. At the same time, existing consumers are encouraged to return to the Marketplace and actively renew their coverage. Over 2.5 million existing consumers have already returned to the Marketplace to select a plan for 2025. Building on the historic success of last year, we are on track for a record high number of plan selections for this year’s Open Enrollment. 

“Health insurance gives people access to affordable, quality care. It gives them peace of mind. That’s why the Biden-Harris Administration has worked to connect tens of millions of Americans with health coverage through the Marketplace,” said Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Four out of five people can find a quality health plan for $10 or less a month after financial assistance on HealthCare.gov. That’s the best deal in town. I encourage you to sign up now to ensure you and your family get the best coverage for your health care needs in 2025.”

“I’m excited about this year’s open enrollment and believe this will be the biggest yet. It’s never been more critical to ensure access to high-quality, affordable health care coverage in America,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “Now is the time to remind friends, family, and the whole of our communities that HealthCare.gov can provide a critical lifeline to care and that subsidies that can make coverage more affordable remain for 2025.”

For 2025, consumers continue to have greater plan choices and, thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, many people who were previously ineligible for financial assistance now have access to lower premiums after tax credits. Four out of five HealthCare.gov consumers can find a plan for $10 or less per month through expanded financial assistance. Consumers are reminded that this additional financial assistance will remain available through 2025. For more information on the range of updates CMS has implemented to improve the Health Insurance Marketplace® for 2025 — including web and navigation enhancements and more — consult the “What’s New for 2025 Open Enrollment” fact sheet

CMS has also improved the online consumer experience with a refreshed account management section, where consumers benefit from a streamlined account home with improved messaging on next steps for applications and enrollments, and more consistent access to their personal information within their account. 

Marketplace Open Enrollment on HealthCare.gov runs from November 1 to January 15. Consumers who enroll by midnight December 15 (5 a.m. EST on December 16) can get full-year coverage that starts January 1, 2025. 

Individuals can enroll or re-enroll in health insurance coverage for 2025 by visiting HealthCare.gov (or CuidadoDeSalud.gov), or by calling 1-800-318-2596 to fill out an application. Individuals who want assistance signing up for coverage may go to “Find Local Help” on HealthCare.gov to find a Navigator, Certified Application Counselor, or agent or broker. Additionally, if someone learns they are no longer eligible for Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage, they can visit HealthCare.gov to see if they are eligible to enroll in a low-cost, quality health plan. They can also contact the Marketplace Call Center for support in finding a plan that fits their needs.

Marketplace Enrollment Snapshot Overview: 

Marketplace and Consumer TypeCumulative 2025 OEP Plan Selections 
Total: All Marketplace Plans

3,015,993

New Consumers

496,154

Returning Consumers[2]

2,519,839

Total: HealthCare.gov Marketplace

2,508,213

New Consumers

387,844

Returning Consumers

2,120,369

Total: State-based Marketplace (SBM)[3]

507,780

New Consumers

108,310

Returning Consumers

399,470[4]

To view the Marketplace enrollment snapshot report, please visit: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/marketplace-2025-open-enrollment-period-report-national-snapshot

Health Insurance Marketplace® is a registered service mark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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[1] These metrics reflect available data through November 16, 2024, for Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FFM) states and through November 9, 2024, for State-based Marketplace (SBM) plans.

[2] The returning-consumers’ metric in this report only includes consumers who have returned to their respective Marketplace through the reporting date, and selected a plan for 2025 coverage, and excludes consumers who have been automatically re-enrolled in their 2024 plan for 2025 coverage or a suggested alternative plan. Please see the glossary for data on auto re-enrolled consumers that SBM plans have reported to CMS.

[3] In addition to reported Qualified Health Plan (QHP) plan selections, Minnesota and Oregon have a Basic Health Program (BHP), which provides coverage to consumers with household incomes at or below 200% and above 133% of the Federal Poverty Level, who are not eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, and otherwise would be eligible for a QHP. New York has also implemented a new coverage program, the Essential Plan (EP) Expansion, under a section 1332 waiver. The EP Expansion generally mirrors the state’s previously utilized BHP with expanded eligibility for certain residents with estimated household incomes up to 250% of the FPL. See https://www.cms.gov/files/document/ny-1332-amendment-fact-sheet.pdf for more information about New York’s EP Expansion. As of November 9, 2024, Oregon had 29,000 individuals enroll in a BHP, and New York had 1.6 million enroll in the EP Expansion under the state’s section 1332 waiver program. Minnesota's BHP data was not available at the time of this report.

[4] New York’s returning consumer count was not available at the time of this publication.