News Briefs: Nearly 4.6M People Have Enrolled in ACA Exchange Plans for 2024

Nearly 4.6 million have enrolled in Affordable Care Act exchange plans for 2024 since open enrollment began on Nov. 1, including 919,900 people who did not have exchange plans this year. The data captures sign-ups through Nov. 18 for people in the 32 states that use HealthCare.gov for enrollment and through Nov. 11 for people in the 17 states and Washington, D.C., that have state-based marketplaces. CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said in a press release that “we have seen an increase in plan selections and a significant increase in the number of new enrollees year over year.” The open enrollment period runs through Jan. 15, 2024, for states using the HealthCare.gov website, while deadlines for state-based marketplaces vary.

The Biden administration on Nov. 16 released reports outlining steps it is taking to address social determinants of health and emphasizing the need to improve individuals’ social circumstances. The documents include the U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health, the Call to Action to Address Health-Related Social Needs and a Medicaid and CHIP Health-Related Social Needs Framework. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a press release that “it is clear that the health of our people does not exist in a vacuum, but it is affected by our access to stable housing, healthy food and clean air to breathe.”