Carper Reminds Delawareans and All Americans to Sign Up For Quality, Affordable Health Care Ahead of Dec. 15 Deadline

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), a senior member of the Finance Committee, spoke on the Senate floor to remind Delawareans of the upcoming Affordable Care Act open enrollment deadline of this Sunday, December 15^th.

“Some may be wondering if the ACA marketplace is the right choice for you or your loved ones,” said Senator Carper. “The marketplace provides quality, affordable health care coverage for Americans who don’t receive affordable health insurance through their employer.”

Senator Carper continued, “For instance, last Friday, I met G.W. Thompson, a self-employed artist from Lewes, Delaware, whose life was forever changed by the Affordable Care Act, when he was able to find affordable and comprehensive health insurance. Earlier this year, I met a widow in Delaware named Marie who lives with a pre-existing condition. As it turns out, there are tens of millions of people in this country who live with pre-existing conditions and for many years they did not have access to health care. That’s not the case anymore. Thanks to the excellent staff at Westside Family Healthcare in Dover, Delaware, Mari  e was able to enroll in an ACA plan that covers her pre-existing condition and keeps her healthy.”

“If you are one of the 133 million Americans living with a pre-existing condition, I urge you to visit HealthCare.gov today, and find a plan that works for you. If you are a young person who has just turned 26 and can no longer stay on your parents’ health care plan, visit HealthCare.gov today, and find a plan that works for you. If you or your family have tried to enroll in Medicaid, but did not qualify, visit HealthCare.gov today, and find a plan that works for you.” Senator Carper concluded, “And don’t forget, nearly 9 out of 10 customers are eligible for financial help, which could mean big savings for you and your family.”

Senator Carper also highlighted the recent addition of new insurers on the ACA marketplace and average premium decreases nationwide. Premiums for the most popular ACA plans across the country are down by an average of four percent. For plans starting January 1, 2020, average premiums are down by 19 percent in Delaware. This year, 43 new insurers are offering coverage in marketplaces around the country. That gain comes on top of the 23 new insurers that were added in 2019. 

Federal tax credits are available for those whose household income is between 138 percent and 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. For 2020, that’s between $17,236 and $49,960 for an individual, or between $35,535 and $103,000 for a family of four. For coverage in 2019, about 85 percent of enrollees in Delaware were eligible for tax credits, which help reduce the cost of the monthly premium.

Delawareans who need help enrolling in coverage will have access to free in-person assistance from federally funded and trained specialists at Westside Family Healthcare. State-licensed insurance agents and brokers are also available to help individuals re-enroll and to help employers update their coverage, at no extra charge. For more information, go to www.ChooseHealthDE.com. Consumers can enroll in marketplace coverage at www.HealthCare.gov or by calling 1 (800) 318-2596 (TTY: 1 855 889-4325).

Senator Carper’s full remarks are available here.

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