Shaheen Statement Ahead of Health Insurance Open Enrollment Period That Begins November 1st
(Washington, DC)—U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) issued the following statement ahead of the health insurance open enrollment period, which runs November 1st through December 15th. Though the Trump administration has continued efforts to sabotage the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and defund activities to raise awareness of the enrollment period, the law remains in place and Granite Staters are encouraged to visit healthcare.gov to view and compare health plans for 2019, and to enroll by the December 15th deadline.
“The health insurance open enrollment period begins on Thursday and I encourage Granite Staters to visit healthcare.gov to shop for the best plan for them and their families,” said Shaheen. “The Affordable Care Act remains the law of the land and has improved the health and well-being of New Hampshire. Enrollment advertising and access to health care navigators have been slashed by the Trump administration, so I also encourage everyone to help spread the word to your friends and families, particularly those who are in need of health care coverage or may need to change their coverage. I’ll keep working across the aisle to prioritize efforts that strengthen the Affordable Care Act, reduce premiums, stabilize the marketplace and ensure every American has access to the quality health care they need.”
Senator Shaheen has consistently fought to protect and improve the Affordable Care Act. She’s introduced legislation that would bring stability to the health insurance marketplace by permanently funding payments for cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) and making cost-sharing reductions available to more Americans. This cost-sharing reduction assistance helps to reduce deductibles and co-pays for low-income patients who are enrolled in marketplace coverage. Restoring payments to reimburse health plans for providing these cost-sharing reductions would result in a significant reduction in premiums. Senator Shaheen also helped introduce the Individual Health Insurance Marketplace Improvement Act to create a permanent reinsurance program for the individual health insurance market, similar to the successful programs used to lower premiums and spur competition in the Medicare Part D program. Additionally, Senator Shaheen joined a bipartisan group of Senators in support of the Bipartisan Health Care Stabilization Act of 2017, which would lower premiums and improve quality of care for patients and families across the nation. She also recently authored legislation to help reduce out-of-pocket costs for patients with marketplace coverage who receive care from hospitals and physicians that are not in the patient’s provider network.
Many Granite Staters are eligible for federal tax credits and other financial assistance that can substantially reduce the premiums they pay and the out-of-pocket costs that they owe when they receive care. Please visit healthcare.gov to preview 2019 plans now and to enroll in a plan between November 1st and December 15th. If you have a question about how to enroll, please visit the list of New Hampshire in-person assisters available here.
