Open Enrollment officially ended on January 15, closing the period in which enrollment or changes to Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plans can occur. At this point, if enrollment or changes need to be made, people with disabilities who are looking for a Marketplace plan would need to qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). Common SEPs, but not a definitive list, can be due to changes in:
- Income
- Employment
- Healthcare coverage
- Household size
As a part of our partnership with the CBPP, we have updated Factsheets 1 through 16, excluding Factsheet 6. People with disabilities should read topic and population specific sheets.
The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) reported that the ACA Marketplace and Medicaid expansion enrollment reached over 44 million in 2024. The results showed that 1 in 6 nonelderly people had health coverage through the ACA and that nearly 24 million signed up for these plans, a record high in ACA enrollment!
The Department of Health and Human Services released the Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for the 2026 Final Rule and will be effective as of January 15, 2025.
The NDNRC wants to make sure that people with disabilities are aware of potential changes to their healthcare with the new administration taking office starting January 20, 2025. The disability community utilizes Medicaid, and the ACA Marketplace plans at a higher rate than those without disabilities due to their unique needs.
By updating this newsletter with resources and educational pieces on where disability health policies stand, we hope to ensure that the disability community continues to have access to accessible and affordable healthcare coverage no matter what changes occur in the foreseeable future.
As administration changes take place next week, it is important for policy makers and other relevant stakeholders to understand the importance of Medicaid, especially as it relates to people with disabilities. The Commonwealth Fund (TCF) has released an explainer on Medicaid and Medicaid expansion, proving to be a useful resource to those who still require context to Medicaid buy-in and the supports that it provides for the disability community.
While 2024 saw a major increase in Marketplace and Medicaid enrollment, Medicaid work requirements that are being proposed by conservative congressional leaders could lead to 36 million Medicaid enrollees at risk for losing their coverage. These requirements could lead to coverage loss for those in between employment, face increases in medical debt, and be unable to access affordable and quality coverage.
TCF also released an updated explainer on this subject, highlighting how work requirements affected other safety-net programs, legal outlook for such work requirements, and its impact on Medicaid enrollees.
KFF reviewed coverage through the Marketplace and Medicaid and what changes the programs might experience in the new administration. Many states that found increase in ACA enrollment were won by Republican representatives in the 2024 election and might face a decrease in funding their respective state programs.
CBPP released a report on federal policy debates in 2025. This report discussed how House Republicans are aiming to create large budget cuts that will cost over $5 trillion in the next decade, with Medicaid and the Marketplace facing large cuts.
Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families (CCF) covered how cuts to Medicaid would shift healthcare costs to families and will negatively impact rural communities, especially people with disabilities. CCF reviewed data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and found that rural communities were more likely to rely on Medicaid, especially those who do not live close to metro areas.
KFF reported on how Medicaid home care programs help support family caregivers, estimating that over 4.5 million people use these services. Coverage included waiver programs, personal care in state plans, and more. These services allow people with disabilities to obtain the healthcare that they need in their own homes and communities.
CBPP reported on the importance of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to marginalized communities, such as low-income and those with disabilities, and how changes in administration could cut food assistance programs like SNAP that about 1 in 8 people in the United States use.
Archives of our weekly updates are available on the NDNRC website.