More people sign up for Obamacare in Florida as nation breaks record and deadline nears [Miami Herald]

Florida is once again leading the nation in people signing up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, with more than 4 million people enrolling for 2024 coverage as the country sees a record number of sign-ups ahead of next week’s deadline.

More than 20 million people in the U.S. have signed up for plans on the federal health insurance exchange since the open enrollment period launched Nov. 1, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

In Florida, enrollment has ballooned to more than 4 million, about a 25% jump over last year’s open enrollment period under ACA, commonly known as Obamacare, federal data shows. California has the second highest number of 2024 enrollments so far, with slightly more than 1.7 million.

The healthcare reform law, which went into effect more than a decade ago, requires insurance plans to cover preventative care services, such as annual checkups, and provide coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, without charging them more. The law also created a government-run insurance marketplace, with the goal to make affordable health insurance available to more people through the creation of tax credit subsidies. The law also gives states the ability to expand Medicaid to cover adults with income below 138% of the federal poverty level, though some states have declined to do so, including Florida.

While county-specific data for the 2024 enrollment period isn’t available yet, Miami-Dade County has previously led the country in Obamacare enrollments. Florida also had the highest number of Obamacare enrollments among the states for 2023.

The open enrollment period for 2024 isn’t over yet. In Florida, people can sign up for a plan through Tuesday, Jan. 16.

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“Today is a momentous day. A record number of people in the United States have health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplace — more than at any point in history,” said U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra in a statement. “More people with access to preventive care means a healthier country and lower health care costs across the board. Quality health care gives people the peace of mind they need to participate fully in their communities, spend time with those they love, and pursue their part of the American Dream.”

Why does Florida lead in Obamacare enrollments?

Experts have previously told the Herald that there are several reasons why Florida has such high Obamacare enrollment, including outreach efforts, lack of jobs that provide health coverage, and the state’s decision to not expand Medicaid eligibility. More people were also expected to turn to Obamacare as the state purges its Medicaid list.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, to make sure there was continuous access of care, Medicaid participants were automatically re-enrolled in the health insurance program. When the federal public health emergency ended in May, Florida began checking people’s eligibility again.

So far, more than half a million Floridians have lost their Medicaid. While some would likely turn to an ACA plan for coverage, experts have warned that many will fall into the Medicaid access gap. This gap refers to when people have incomes too high for Medicaid eligibility but too low for the Obamacare marketplace and are left without insurance.

How to sign up for Obamacare

People who want to enroll or re-enroll in health insurance coverage for 2024 through the ACA marketplace can do so at HealthCare.gov, CuidadoDeSalud.gov, or by calling 1-800-318-2596 to fill out an application. The deadline to apply in Florida is 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16.

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