Scott Statement on Marketplace Enrollment Topping 11 Million
More Than 380,000 Virginians Enrolled
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the Department of Health and Human Services' release of open enrollment data for the Health Insurance Marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA):
"The enrollment data released today shows that the Affordable Care Act is working to provide affordable health insurance to millions of Americans. During the second open enrollment period which ended on February 15th, 11.4 million consumers selected plans or were automatically re-enrolled through HealthCare.gov or state-based Marketplaces – up from the 8 million who enrolled last year. This number includes 384,612 Virginians who selected plans through the Marketplace this year. Even more Virginians could benefit from the ACA if the Virginia General Assembly voted to expand Medicaid.
"In addition to providing affordable insurance options for millions of Americans who do not already have insurance, the Affordable Care Act also included a variety of consumer protections. For example, the ACA makes sure that employers and insurance companies can no longer discriminate against individuals with a pre-existing medical condition or cancel coverage simply because the policyholder got sick. The ACA has tough new rules that crack down on unjustified rate hikes, and require that the money Americans pay towards monthly premiums is actually spent on medical services—not excessive administrative expenses or CEO bonuses. These provisions are working to protect all Americans, regardless of whether they get their health insurance through their employer or through the Marketplace.
"The Affordable Care Act is also working to keep health costs down. Data released last December shows that national health spending grew only 3.6% in 2013, the lowest annual increase since 1960, when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began tracking the statistic. The Congressional Budget Office also now projects that federal health spending—including the costs of the ACA's coverage expansions—will be approximately $600 billion less over ten years than what CBO projected in January 2010 in the absence of the ACA.
"All this goes to show is that the Affordable Care Act is working for American families. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to strengthen and improve the law's implementation."
The Department of Health and Human Services' full enrollment data snapshot can be accessed online at: https://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/facts/blog/2015/02/open-enrollment-week-thirteen.html.
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