Biden has said he favors providing a COVID-19 special enrollment period in the federal marketplace for people who are uninsured. Navigators and other marketplace professionals who recently shared their insights agree. Their observations about the 2021 open enrollment period, general and pandemic-specific challenges facing consumers seeking coverage, and suggestions to improve enrollment outcomes include:

Navigators stressed the importance of reopening the federal marketplace for enrollment in 2021. For the first time in several years, marketplace enrollment increased in a number of states. Nevertheless, navigators noted unresolved problems that hindered access for some consumers during the regular open enrollment period. They also pointed to the importance of making every effort to get people covered during the pandemic.
Navigators urged that an emergency COVID enrollment period extend for longer than the six-week federal open enrollment period that just concluded. They said that time will be needed not only to sign up new consumers but to follow up with those who experienced difficulties during the regular open enrollment.
Navigators also stressed the importance of investing substantially in publicizing a COVID reopening of marketplace enrollment. As KFF tracking polls have found for years, most consumers are unaware of marketplace open enrollment deadlines.
Navigators noted the importance of targeted outreach strategies to reach some consumers, including those who do not speak English, non-citizens and those who have been uninsured for a longer period of time. The perceived high cost, lack of awareness about subsidies, fear of how getting coverage subsidies could affect their immigration status and other factors discourage millions of uninsured consumers from even looking into coverage options.

"A reopened ACA enrollment period has the potential to get more people covered during a public health emergency and in the midst of massive economic dislocation," the report concluded. "There are, however, challenges and trade-offs involved. Without any increase in federal subsidies, many people who are uninsured may still find coverage unaffordable.

Instant Insights /

Emergency COVID-19 enrollment period: Just what the doctor ordered?

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