By Jessie Hellmann | October 31, 2019
A study conducted last year by the Urban Institute found that Google searches for “ObamaCare plans” and “ACA enroll” mostly yielded results for websites selling short-term plans. Those plans aren’t sold on healthcare.gov or other state-based marketplaces, but are instead found on third-party websites run by brokers, agents and insurance companies.
When ObamaCare’s open enrollment period begins Friday, many people can expect to find lower premiums and more plan options on healthcare.gov.
But experts and advocates are projecting the number of enrollees for 2020 will decrease for a fourth consecutive year, in large part because of actions taken by the Trump administration.
“I expect to see a decline in enrollment because of the long list of things working against it,” said Josh Peck, who oversaw ObamaCare enrollment efforts from 2014 to 2017.
Enrollment has slipped in recent years, from a high of 12.7 million in 2016 to 11.4 million in 2019.
Democrats have accused President Trump and his administration of “sabotaging” the 2010 health care law by backing a lawsuit that seeks to overturn it, loosening regulations on the sale of non-ObamaCare plans, cutting federal funds for marketing and outreach efforts, and ending payments to insurers that go toward reducing costs for low-income customers.
Still, there are signs the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces are holding steady. Health insurance premiums have decreased, on average, from last year, and increased insurer participation means consumers will have more plan options.