Enrollment in 2024 ACA Marketplace plans tops 7 million so far

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About 7.3 million people have signed up for 2024 Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plans since the November 1 start of the open enrollment period, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Of those, 1.6 million, or 22.5% of the total, are first-time enrollees.

Enrollment numbers include activity through December 2 for the 32 states using the HealthCare.gov platform and through November 25 for the 18 states and the District of Columbia with state-based Marketplaces.

In a news release CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said, “I’m thrilled to see that more than seven million people have signed up for Marketplace coverage nationwide since open enrollment began. The continued increase in enrollment is confirmation that the need for affordable, quality health care coverage is strong.”

“On top of last year’s record numbers, enrollment for Marketplace health insurance at HealthCare.gov is again exceeding expectations,” added Xavier Becerra, secretary of the U.S. Department of Human Services.

CMS says that more than 90% of HealthCare.gov enrollees have at least three plans to choose from. Standardized plan options are available and offer the same deductibles and cost-sharing for certain benefits. Most of these standardized plan options offer many services pre-deductible, including primary care, generic drugs, preferred brand drugs, urgent care, specialist visits, mental health and substance use outpatient office visits, as well as speech, occupational, and physical therapies.

Among the states Florida has the most enrollees, with 1.83 million. It’s followed by Texas (1.42 million), Georgia (544,000) and North Carolina (385,000). The District of Columbia has had the fewest enrollees, with 1,117.

According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, total enrollment in Marketplace plans, including through the Healthcare.gov and state-based platforms, has doubled since the program’s launch. In 2014, its first full year of operation, just over 8 million people signed up for plans. By 2023 enrollment had increased to 16.3 million.

Open enrollment for 2024 Marketplace plans on Healthcare.gov runs through January 15, 2024. Those enrolling by midnight on December 15 can get full-year coverage that starts January 1, 2024. State-based Marketplace enrollment deadlines vary.