Americans are acutely unaware or confused about major changes made to the ACA over the last year. (Photo: Getty)
Americans remain confused about the Affordable Care Act—and more than a few even think it was repealed this year, according to a survey by Policygenius, a digital insurance marketplace provider.
Both political parties are to blame for the confusion, Timothy Jost, professor of law at Washington and Lee University, tells Policygenius.
“Republicans made an aggressive attempt to repeal the law, and also spent billions over the past eight years attacking the law in political campaigns,” Jost says. “And Democrats have not done a good job explaining the law to their constituents.”
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Nearly 79 percent of Americans don't know when federal open enrollment takes place this year, compared to 76 percent last year, according the survey of 1,501 U.S. adults conducted by Google Consumer Surveys on behalf of Policygenius.
People remain equally confused about the ACA's key components. More than 80 percent don't know the basic benefits that plans sold on Healthcare.gov must cover, compared to 78 percent in 2017. And only 7.6 percent of people without insurance knew all the essential health benefits of the law, compared to 23.3 percent of people who have health insurance.
Americans are also acutely unaware or confused about major changes made to the ACA over the last year: One in four believe there's still a federal tax penalty for forgoing health insurance, and about 88 percent did not know short-term health plans can now last for up to three years. Moreover, a quarter (26 percent) thought the ACA was formally repealed in 2018, up from 13 percent in 2017.
“The current political climate has heightened confusion, but awareness is a chronic issue when it comes to Americans' understanding of our current health care law,” says Jennifer Fitzgerald, CEO and co-founder of Policygenius. “If you need health insurance, it's important to know the marketplaces are opening on November 1 and subsidies are still available for people in need.”
If individuals are not sure whether they should apply on their own state's exchange, Healthcare.gov will tell them where to go, and they can also compare and buy health insurance with Policygenius, Fitzgerald says. Open enrollment for the federal health insurance marketplace on Healthcare.gov lasts from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15, though some states have longer open enrollment periods.
Individuals who miss the deadline may be able to qualify for a special enrollment period that can be triggered by significant life events, such as when a person relocates, gets married or has a child, she says.
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Katie Kuehner-Hebert
Katie Kuehner-Hebert is a freelance writer based in Running Springs, Calif. She has more than three decades of journalism experience, with particular expertise in employee benefits and other human resource topics.
