As the year draws to a close, those seeking health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace have a critical deadline approaching. Enrollment for plans that begin on January 1 closes on December 15 at healthcare.gov, with the opportunity for further enrollment extending into mid-January for coverage starting in February.
Recent federal subsidies, courtesy of the Inflation Reduction Act, have significantly reduced the costs of many plans for 2025. Shannon Hills, a regional administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, highlighted the impact of these changes. “In the Phoenix area, a single woman making $33,000 or less can find four plans under $10 a month. A 27-year-old man making $22,000 can expect to find eight plans under $10 a month,” she explained, emphasizing the positive news for Arizona residents.
Hills also suggests that even current enrollees should explore the 2025 plan options. “Shop other plans that are available in your area. Who knows? Maybe you can find a plan that meets all of your needs and it might be available at a lower cost,” she advised.
In 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that around 10% of Arizonans were uninsured, marking one of the highest rates nationally. The Inflation Reduction Act’s subsidies have largely driven the record-high enrollment in ACA plans both in Arizona and across the United States in recent years. However, these subsidies are scheduled to end after 2025. Without an extension, significant price increases are anticipated for most marketplace plans starting in 2026.
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