More than 24 million people secured coverage during open enrollment on the Affordable Care Act's exchanges, according to the latest marketplace report from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
The CMS said 24.2 million people signed up during the enrollment window, including 3.9 million new enrollees. That's more than double the number of people who enrolled during the 2021 sign-up period, according to the announcement.
Open enrollment on HealthCare.gov ended Jan. 15. People who enrolled in plans as of that date will have coverage beginning Feb. 1.
"The record-breaking success of this year’s Marketplace Open Enrollment speaks volumes about the Affordable Care Act’s past, present, and future serving the American people by connecting our communities to high-quality, person-centered, affordable health care coverage," said Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, CMS administrator during the Biden administration, in the press release.
Brooks-LaSure also touted the role that enhanced premium subsidies played in driving greater enrollment. The expanded tax credits paved the way for more people to qualify for assistance, allowing them to secure coverage they can afford.
However, these gains are currently set to reverse, as they were extended by Congress through the end of 2025 but the future is uncertain under the new Trump administration and Republican-controlled legislature.
President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is set to go before two Senate committees in his first confirmation hearings next week, and his perspective on extending the premium subsidies is a potential topic of discussion.
"This record-breaking enrollment is also a testament to the importance of the enhanced financial assistance available through 2025," Brooks-LaSure said. "This additional help has made all the difference for people seeking affordable insurance."