A press release from the agency overseeing the Obamacare health insurance plans announced that the Trump administration plans to end the enrollment period on December 15, a month earlier than the current deadline. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services stated that this change is intended to address “improper enrollments” that have led to increased taxpayer spending on the program. Additional details on the alleged discrepancies and comments from the agency were not immediately available.
Furthermore, the agency will be tightening the eligibility criteria for special sign-up periods outside of the standard enrollment dates of November 1 through December 15. This will include requiring additional income verification, though specifics were not provided.
The health plans, subsidized based on income, were established under the Affordable Care Act in 2010. To date, 49.4 million Americans have signed up for these plans, with a record 20.8 million enrollees in 2024.
The agency also announced measures to prevent unauthorized enrollments in health plans and clarified that gender-affirming care would not be considered essential for insurers participating in the Obamacare marketplace. Additionally, undocumented individuals receiving health coverage through DACA will face restrictions on enrolling.
This information was reported by Amina Niasse, with editing by Lisa Shumaker.
