Texans have less than a week left to sign up for health insurance through the online marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Saturday, Jan. 15, is the deadline to buy coverage that would start on Feb. 1.
Open enrollment for coverage starting on Jan. 1 ended on Dec. 15. That enrollment period saw a record number of Texans sign up. According to the, more than 1.7 million people in Texas purchased health insurance through the ACA during that enrollment cycle.
鈥淭he last time we had the record for open enrollment periods was actually back in 2016,鈥� said Stacey Pogue, senior policy analyst for the progressive nonprofit Every Texan. 鈥淲e had 1.3 million Texans who signed up at open enrollment in 2016. We鈥檙e already 400,000 Texans above that this enrollment period, even though it鈥檚 not done yet.鈥�
Pogue said one major factor driving signups in Texas: Affordability.
鈥淐ongress increased the financial assistance that goes to people signing up at healthcare.gov in 2021 with the American Rescue Plan,鈥� explained Pogue. 鈥淎nd, so, there are just many, many more Texans who are eligible for a comprehensive insurance plan with very low monthly premiums at $10 a month or less.鈥�
On top of affordability, Brian Sasser with the Episcopal Health Foundation in Houston said he expects other factors could increase enrollment by Saturday.
鈥淚f you combine that there鈥檚 navigation help for you, there鈥檚 more financial assistance available than ever, and there鈥檚 more plans to choose from, hopefully that鈥檚 a perfect storm to really raise this enrollment during the last week,鈥� he added.
In years past, Sasser said typically about 50% of the people who signed up for health insurance plans through the ACA did it during the final week.
鈥淟ast year, more than half of the total enrollment for the year came in, in the last week,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o, there are lots of opportunities to get it done. But, Saturday is the final deadline.鈥�
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Texas has the highest number of uninsured people in the U.S.