2018 Marketplace Enrollment Numbers Shows ACA’s Critical Role in Helping Young People Get Covered

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Young Invincibles issued the following news release:

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that 11.8 million Americans enrolled in health coverage through the individual health insurance marketplace during the 2018 open enrollment period - 97 percent of the enrollment total of the 2017 enrollment, despite the Trump administration dramatically cutting advertising, outreach, and Navigator programs while making the enrollment period half as long as previous years.

In spite of attempts by the Trump administration to sabotage the health insurance marketplace, Millennials continued to take advantage of the coverage available through the Affordable Care Act. In all, 3.1 million young adults enrolled in coverage, consistent with previous enrollment periods.

In response to today's announcement, Young Invincibles Executive Director Rachel Fleischer released the following statement:

"Despite the year-long sabotage effort by the Trump administration to undermine the health insurance marketplace, today's report confirms what we already knew: the Affordable Care Act is working for young people. 3.1 million young people have enrolled in quality affordable health plans that will help them stay healthy and financially secure as they pursue their adult lives. Today's announcement shows that young people value their health and understand the importance of getting covered. Now we need to build on that progress by strengthening the Affordable Care Act and abandoning efforts that make enrollment more difficult, drive up premiums, and destabilize the health insurance marketplace.

While we are excited by today's announcement, these enrollment numbers would be higher if the Trump administration had not gutted the resources that help people enroll in coverage. Administrator Verma's characterization of the enrollment period as 'cost effective' ignores the significant investment of resources by partners across the country that were forced to step in when the administration failed consumers. Instead of praising damaging budget cuts, the administration should restore funding and support for outreach and enrollment efforts and invest in-person assistance."