ACA open enrollment begins Friday in Alabama, but without Congressional action, over 300,000 could see premiums rise by 93% after 2025. (Getty)
The open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace begins this Friday, giving Alabamians a chance to renew or obtain health coverage for next year.
Health insurance plans through the Marketplace will continue to be subsidized through 2025. But without congressional action, Alabamians could see their premiums increase significantly, with over 300,000 Alabamians at risk of losing the subsidies at the end of 2025.
If Congress doesn’t extend 2022 IRA subsidies, up to 371,000 Alabamians could see ACA premiums rise by 93%, or $612 annually. These subsidies currently help 96% of Alabama’s ACA enrollees afford coverage, according to KFF, a health policy research organization.
“This is really one of the best deals you can get when it comes to private health insurance,” said Cynthia Cox, vice president of KFF and director of the program on ACA. “This is much more generous than what people get through work, for example, and so that’s these enhanced subsidies have led to a significant growth in the number of people who are buying ACA Marketplace coverage.”