The Affordable Care Act open enrollment period for 2021 has been under way since Nov. 1 and ends Dec. 15, although that period will be longer in ten states, including California, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging and temporary job losses becoming permanent by summer's end, the ACA safety nets are expected to be sorely tested. "The ACA provides an important cushion," said Sara Collins, vice president for health care coverage and access at the Commonwealth Fund, in October, "but we don't know how much of one yet, since this is first real test of the law as a safety net in a serious recession." According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, people who have lost job-based coverage may feel more motivated now to enroll in ACA programs such as the Marketplace and expanded Medicaid subsidies. At the same time, people may need to refresh their knowledge about these programs, as awareness of their existence has decreased since 2014. "With so much changing this year, there is no shortage of reasons why the public needs to know about ACA open enrollment," write Cynthia Cox, Karen Pollitz, and Daniel McDermott in a new report for KFF. From declining premiums to extensions and eligibility changes, see our slideshow of KFF's top ten reasons to keep an eye on the 2021 ACA enrollment.
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