FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 19, 2018

Contact: Kathy Melley, (617) 791-0708

(BOSTON, MA) — Statement of Dara Taylor, Community Catalyst’s Director of Consumer Assistance, regarding the end of the sixth enrollment period of the Affordable Care Act and the announcement by CMS that over 8.4 million people, according to preliminary estimates, have selected a plan through the federally facilitated marketplace, healthcare.gov.

“Despite early estimates projecting a drop in enrollment in the sixth open enrollment period, a late surge at the deadline proves once again that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces are strong and that millions of Americans rely on the ACA for health coverage. Unfortunately, instead of working to ensure the remaining uninsured have access to health coverage, the Trump Administration continues to intentionally and methodically work to prevent people from getting access to quality affordable health care.

“While state-based marketplaces across the country have invested and encouraged enrollment, the administration cut advertising for the open enrollment period and slashed in-person assistance through the Navigator program. Many state-based marketplaces are still enrolling, and are seeing steady, and in some cases increasing, enrollment totals.

“The administration is also encouraging instability in health care markets by refusing to defend the law in the Texas v. Azar case and through their proposed changes to the Public Charge rule, which has had a chilling effect on enrollment in immigrant communities. Despite these deliberate actions to tamp down enrollment and fewer resources than ever, the enrollment community defied all odds and exceeded all expectations.

“The ACA remains law of the land and is a crucial health coverage mechanism for millions of Americans. Our government should be doing all it can to ensure all Americans have access to quality, affordable health coverage.”

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About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national, non-profit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1998 with the belief that affordable quality health care should be accessible to everyone. We work in partnership with national, state and local organizations, policymakers, and philanthropic foundations to ensure consumer interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and the health system are made: in communities, statehouses and on Capitol Hill. Headquartered in Boston, Community Catalyst has offices in Washington, DC, Atlanta, New York, Pittsburgh and St. Louis. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Follow us on Twitter @HealthPolicyHub.