Biden orders special enrollment window for the Affordable Care Act

Statement from In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda

WASHINGTON — The Biden-Harris administration has reopened enrollment for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act, from February 15 to May 15, 2021. However, the timeline for enrollment varies in some states, which run their own insurance exchanges. In this statement, Marcela Howell, president and CEO of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, applauds the new enrollment window and encourages people without health insurance — especially in communities of color — to act now to enroll:

“We know that before the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), people of color accounted for 54 percent of the uninsured in the United States, even though they only make up 35 percent of the population. Black women and other women of color — who already face systemic barriers to accessing health care — were disproportionately impacted. During the last administration, due to actions to undermine enrollment, the number of people without health insurance increased for the first time since the ACA went into effect. Now we have a chance to provide health insurance for more people. We applaud the Biden-Harris administration for taking decisive action to make health insurance coverage more accessible by reopening enrollment for three months. Doing so surely will save lives and help protect people against financial insecurity.

“We strongly urge those who are uninsured — especially women and people of color — to act now to enroll. Visit www.healthcare.gov to enroll. Given that states with their own insurance exchanges may have different enrollment periods, it is important for people without insurance to act immediately so they don’t miss the opportunity to get coverage.”

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