The American Rescue Plan Act Creates Lower-Cost Coverage Options
The American Rescue Plan Act gives consumers new pathways to significantly lower costs for health insurance coverage. This includes consumers who are already enrolled in a plan on Healthcare.gov and people who have not qualified for help in the past. See Covering Wisconsin’s new policy summary and resources below for more information. Covering Wisconsin, based in the UW School of Human Ecology, helps connect Wisconsin residents with appropriate insurance coverage and other programs that support health, and effective use of these programs, see Covering Wisconsin at www.coveringwi.org
What is in the new law?
- Increased financial help for consumers of all income levels on Healthcare.gov starting April 1st, this includes:
- $0 monthly premiums and cost savings for all lower-income consumers (below 150% of the poverty level, or $32,580 for a family of three)
- For the first time, financial help for people with income over 400% of the poverty level ($86,880 for a family of three)
- Free COBRA coverage from April to September 2021 for consumers who were laid-off or had their hours cut
- $0 monthly plans on Healthcare.gov for people getting unemployment starting in July
When do the Healthcare.gov changes happen?
- Changes on Healthcare.gov will be live on April 1st.
- Additional changes for people getting unemployment benefits will be in July.
Healthcare.gov remains open until August 15th to give consumers more time to take advantage of these new options.
What should consumers do?
- Get free local help! Wisconsin has free, unbiased experts that help consumers make sense of and take advantage of these new options. Call 2-1-1 to find a local expert or schedule an appointment online.
- Review new plan prices at Healthcare.gov after April 1st. This includes consumers who are: uninsured, current Healthcare.gov consumers, and those enrolled in short-term, other off-Marketplace, or limited benefit plans.
- Sign up or change plans at Healthcare.gov by August 15th.
Consumers enrolled in a Marketplace plan must sign in and update their accounts in order to get new savings to begin right away.
For more information visit: www.coveringwi.org
