Resources
Healthcare

Spanberger: Administration’s Refusal to Pursue ACA Special Enrollment Period is “Tragic & Misguided” Move Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Apr 01, 2020
Healthcare
Local Issues
Press

Last Month, the Congresswoman Called on the Administration to Open a Special Enrollment Period for Individual Health Insurance Signups

HENRICO, V.A. – U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement after the administration indicated that it would not open a special enrollment period for individual health insurance signups during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“In the face of this public health emergency, the administration’s refusal to open a special enrollment period is tragic and misguided. Without the opportunity to sign up for new or updated health insurance plans, many Central Virginia families who are uninsured won’t be able to change their current coverage situations until November 2020. If these individuals become sick due to COVID-19 in the coming weeks, they won’t have insurance coverage to get them through their medical emergency—and they’ll put their communities at even higher risk,” said Spanberger. “To make sure those who are seriously ill can obtain the treatment they need, we need to come to the aid of our most vulnerable neighbors during this difficult time. I urge the administration to reevaluate this decision, because the lives of Central Virginians are hanging in the balance.”

Last month, Spanberger urged U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar to establish a special enrollment period for patients seeking ACA Marketplace coverage as this public health emergency continues. HHS has previously opened federal enrollment periods following disasters such as Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Dorian.

According to a 2020 report from the Virginia Healthcare Foundation, approximately 712,000 Virginians under the age of 65 did not have health insurance in 2018 —and more than 64 percent of these uninsured residents are part of working families. Many of these families are eligible for subsidized plans through the ACA Marketplace.

###

Recent Posts

Oct 11, 2024
Social Security, Medicare, & Retirement

NEW: Spanberger Pens Op-Ed Urging Colleagues to Vote to Pass Her Bipartisan Bill to Eliminate WEP & GPO

The Bipartisan “Social Security Fairness Act” Would Eliminate Two Provisions of the “Social Security Act” That Unfairly Reduce Benefits for Millions of Americans Who Have Devoted Much of Their Careers to Public Service Thanks to the Congresswoman’s Effort to Force a Vote on the Legislation, the “Social Security Fairness Act” Will Come to the U.S. […]

Oct 10, 2024
Energy & Environment

Spanberger Urges Speaker Johnson to Call U.S. House Back to Capitol Hill to Pass Emergency Appropriations Funding Following Hurricanes Helene & Milton

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger is urging U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson to call Members of Congress back to Capitol Hill to pass supplemental appropriations funds to support Virginia’s communities and communities across the Southeastern United State in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. In a letter to Speaker Johnson, Spanberger and […]

Oct 10, 2024
Good Governance

NEW: Spanberger Ranked #1 Most Collaborative Member of Congress from Virginia, #3 in the Country

An “A” Bridge Grade is Given to Members of Congress Who Exemplify Governing Behaviors that Bridge Our Country Rather than Divide It WOODBRIDGE, Va. — U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger this week was ranked as the most collaborative Member of Congress from Virginia — and the third most collaborative lawmaker on Capitol Hill. Bridge Grades score […]