More Texans received help to pay ACA premiums than ever before, but those benefits won't last long – Houston Chronicle
A record number of Texans enrolled in Affordable Care Act health insurance in 2022 largely because of federal financial assistance provided as part of pandemic relief initiatives, according to an Episcopal Health Foundation analysis released Tuesday.
More than 1.8 million Texans signed up for ACA marketplace health insurance in 2022, up 42 percent from 2021. That means more than 500,000 additional Texans have marketplace health insurance coverage compared to last year.
This the largest jump in Texas ACA enrollment since Congress passed the law in 2013.
At the same time, more Texans at a wider range of income levels received federal financial assistance to help pay ACA insurance premiums than ever before. EHF’s analysis found that a record 94 percent of Texans who signed up for 2022 ACA plans received financial help that dropped average premiums to just $86 from $557.
During COVID-19, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act that expanded the eligibility requirements of the ACA health insurance marketplace for two years. It increased financial help to those already eligible for federal subsidies and expanded subsidies to people earning incomes above $54,000 for individuals and $111,000 for a family of four.
Sixty nine percent of those who signed up for ACA plans earn annual incomes less than $34,000 a year for individuals and $70,000 for a family of four.
“These record numbers clearly show that Texans – especially low-income Texans – want and value health insurance,” says Shao-Chee Sim, EHF’s vice president for Research, Innovation and Evaluation and author of the report. “And when it’s actually affordable to them, huge numbers will sign up for coverage and become repeat customers.”
These programs were much needed in Texas, where lawmakers have opted not to expand Medicaid or create a similar program. Texas remains the state with the highest uninsured rate in the nation and the most uninsured residents. About one in six Texans are without health insurance, according to Census data.
The gains from this year, however, are unlikely to last. The health insurance subsidies are set to expire at with the American Rescue Plan Act at the end of the year unless Congress enacts new legislation.
“Increased financial assistance from the American Rescue Plan Act spurred the record sign-ups across Texas,” Sim said, “But that will be temporary if federal funding for financial assistance expires as planned at the end of the year.”
becca.carballo@chron.com
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