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ACA enrollment period begins in Delaware

Department of Health and Human Services

Open Enrollment began Thursday in Delaware for 2019 health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

The sixth enrollment period for Delaware’s Health Insurance Marketplace runs from November 1st through December 15th.

Last year’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act lifted the ACA mandate requiring all individuals to have health insurance or face a penalty. The Trump administration also cut funding for healthcare navigators and removed the ACA’s risk adjustment program.

Delaware’s Health and Social Services Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker says despite some federal uncertainty the First State still encourages enrolling.

“Because of changes with the individual mandate we will have to wait and see what Delawareans do, but we’re encouraging everyone who is able to purchase and have insurance coverage to do so,” said Walker. “It helps keep costs low and keep people healthy and we know it really makes a difference in the long term.”

As part of two changes to the ACA last week, federal health officials issued a new guidance giving states more flexibility to manage their own health insurance markets.

Walker approves of the move and says Delaware is looking to further customize its health care marketplace in the future.

“We’re talking about how Delaware, in particular, could create recommendations to make sure we’re protecting everyone to get coverage that they need and not be pushed into plans that really don’t give them coverage, except maybe some catastrophic coverage,” she said.

Delaware currently has about 24,500 people enrolled in the state health care marketplace. Most receive tax credits available for household incomes between 138% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Level.

The overall current average monthly premium in Delaware is $750, reduced to $223 per month after factoring the tax credit.

Congresswoman Lisa Blunt-Rochester is cosponsoring a bill to guarantee funding for health care navigators previously cut by the Trump Administration.

Individuals can enroll for health care coverage under the ACA by visiting www.HealthCare.gov or www.ChooseHealthDE.com

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