With Time Still Remaining, ACA Enrollment Surges to New Record

This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that 23.6 million consumers have signed up for 2025 Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace coverage as of January 4.

This is a record number of enrollees and builds on gains in recent years years. Last year, 21.3 million consumers joined ACA plans.

Policy Factors Likely Increasing Enrollment

The increased enrollment has a number of likely causes. The Inflation Reduction Act lowered premiums for most ACA enrollees. In addition, some new enrollees may be transitioning out of Medicaid due to the “unwinding” of COVID-era policies.

Enrollment Periods Continue

Those who need coverage should act without delay. The federal open enrollment period for ACA coverage extends until January 15, with coverage to start February 1. A handful of states stretch their enrollment until January 31. (Note: Idaho’s enrollment has already closed.) Importantly, even outside of open enrollment, people might be eligible for several types of Special Enrollment Periods that will enable them to gain coverage.

Supporting the Interdependent Medicare, Medicaid, and ACA Programs

We applaud the Biden-Harris administration’s focus on supporting and educating potential ACA enrollees. As we face a new Congress and Administration in 2025, we at Medicare Rights will be redoubling our efforts to protect Medicare, Medicaid, and the ACA to ensure all who rely on them have meaningful access to quality care. These programs are cornerstones of public health. Undermining any of the three could create harmful ripple effects for people enrolled in any of them, their family members, the health care workforce, taxpayers, and the health care system as a whole.

Further Reading

Read more about the announced record enrollment numbers.

Read more about our outlook for 2025.

Read more about the ACA and its impact on Medicare.