President takes executive actions aimed at expanding health care coverage

President Biden today signed an executive order aimed at increasing enrollment in comprehensive health care coverage.

The order specifically focuses on improving the quality of coverage and removing barriers to enrollment in Medicaid and the Health Insurance Marketplaces.

In general, the EO directs the Secretaries of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services, as well as the heads of all other executive departments and agencies with authorities and responsibilities related to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to evaluate and propose changes to existing policies that may thwart enrollment in coverage. However, in one concrete action, the President directed the HHS to consider opening a new special enrollment period for the Health Insurance Marketplaces, specifically to assist uninsured individuals and families access coverage as part of the nation’s response to the public health crisis.

AHA members will receive a Special Bulletin with more details on the EO.

In a statement, AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said, “Every American deserves access to health coverage, yet millions remain uninsured. We simply need to do better in addressing this basic human need, particularly during a global pandemic. By reopening enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplaces, the Biden administration is helping more Americans get and stay covered.”

For more information and reactions to EO, see the news release from Get Covered 2021, of which the AHA is a member. The non-partisan coalition works to bring together Americans to promote and expand the tools that exist today to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and expand coverage.