With One Month Left in Open Enrollment Period, Spanberger Encourages Central Virginians to Sign Up for 2021 Health Insurance

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on Nov. 17:

Today, U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger encouraged Central Virginia families, individuals, and small businesses to review their coverage and sign up for 2021 health insurance during the ongoing open enrollment period.

Between now and December 15, Virginians can visit healthcare.gov to review their options, make changes to their current plan, or sign up for a new plan on the healthcare marketplace. Coverage begins on January 1, 2021.

"Across Central Virginia, working families, seniors, and small business owners are struggling with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing economic crisis. Now more than ever, they need stability in the healthcare marketplace," said Spanberger. "As the number of Seventh District residents with preexisting conditions continues to grow, we need to make sure everyone is aware of their coverage options. With only a few more weeks in the open enrollment period, I hope everyone will take time to review their plan and look at all their options for 2021, so they can make the best decision for themselves and their family. I will continue to fight at the federal level to protect affordable, accessible healthcare coverage for all Virginians - and I won't stop speaking out against hyperpartisan, reckless efforts to destroy coverage at a time when so many Americans are in need."

After the December 15 deadline, Central Virginians can only enroll or change their plan is they qualify for the Special Enrollment Period. Click here (https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage-outside-open-enrollment/special-enrollment-period/) to learn more.

BACKGROUND

Spanberger has repeatedly spoken out against the Trump Administration's ongoing effort to dismantle the existing healthcare law in the middle of an ongoing public health crisis. According to the Urban Institute, 678,000 Virginians would lose health insurance coverage by repealing the existing healthcare law through the lawsuit, leading to a 90 percent increase in the Commonwealth's uninsured rate. Additionally, protections for those with pre-existing conditions could be gutted. Approximately 3,580,300 Virginians have a pre-existing condition, including more than 444,000 Virginia children. In the Seventh District, 329,600 people have pre-existing conditions, including 42,800 children.

In addition to defending access to affordable healthcare from partisan attacks, Spanberger has worked to expand access to necessary services and treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, Spanberger led 216 House colleagues from both sides of the aisle in a bipartisan effort to stop big pharmaceutical companies from making changes to the 340B Drug Pricing Program. These extra-legal changes would lead to significant increases in prescription drug costs for many of the hospitals and clinics that serve Virginia's most vulnerable communities.

Last month, Spanberger introduced bipartisan legislation to correct a loophole in the CARES Act and ensure that all seniors with traditional Medicare plans would be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine with no out-of-pocket cost.

In August 2019, Spanberger fought for the prioritization of telehealth funding in a future COVID-19 relief package, citing the need to provide accessible, safe healthcare to more seniors and rural Americans.