Affordable Care Act Archives

July 22, 2026

Beyond the CMS Notice: How ACA Renewal Communications Can Drive Member Retention

In our previous article, The End of Passive Renewal: Why ACA Member Retention Is Becoming a Marketing Challenge, we explored how changing CMS requirements and increased consumer responsibility are reshaping the ACA renewal landscape. The next question is even more important: How should health plans respond? The instinctive answer is often "send more communications." The better answer is to design a better renewal experience. As CMS increases eligibility verification requirements, consumers take a more active role in maintaining coverage, and the federal Marketplace potentially returns to a December 15 Open Enrollment deadline, health plans have less time to help members make informed decisions. Recent KFF research underscores the stakes. Eight in 10 returning Marketplace enrollees reported higher healthcare costs in 2026. Nearly three in 10 switched Marketplace plans, while 9% of those who had Marketplace coverage in 2025 reported being uninsured in 2026. Cost was a major factor in many of those decisions. Health Management Associates and...

July 20, 2021

in Marketing, Uncategorized

by Patricia Uhrich

Health plans should expect record ACA enrollments in 2022 — thanks ARP!

Back in April we promised to follow up on the American Rescue Plan’s (ARP’s) impact on the health insurance market. As you may recall, the ARP offered larger premium tax credits to a greater number of people who obtain coverage through Affordable Care Act health plans. It also created an extended special enrollment period (SEP) that’s slated to end on August 15th. Here’s the good news from the ARP’s impact on 2021 enrollments: CMS reports that over 1.2 million Americans signed up for health insurance under the extended SEP as of June 1st. 3 million consumers reduced their monthly health insurance rates by applying for additional premium tax credits. State-based marketplaces and healthcare.gov helped spur additional enrollments by promoting the SEP along with health plans. This included CMS teaming up with Stride’s Portable Benefits platform to help independent contractors enroll in an ACA health plan during a “Gig Workers Week of...

April 14, 2021

in Uncategorized

by Patricia Uhrich

American Rescue Plan equates to huge opportunities for insurers

Here at Direct Choice, we’re capitalizing on a new wave of marketing opportunities for our health insurance clients brought on by the American Rescue Plan (ARP). That’s the self-aggrandizing title for what you may more readily recognize as the most recent COVID-19 stimulus/relief package. Signed into law on March 11, 2021, Biden’s $1.2 trillion package includes direct stimulus payments, extended unemployment benefits, expanded child tax credits and other safety nets for struggling Americans. One of the less publicized aspects of the plan includes a big win for people without employer-provided health insurance, including middle-income folks. Here’s a breakdown of how the new law is expanding access to affordable health insurance for Americans in 2021 and 2022: Larger premium tax credits According to HHS.gov, monthly premiums will decrease by an average of $50 per person after credits. Four out of five enrollees (up from 69% pre-ARP) will be able to find a plan for...

Affordable Care Act Tag

Beyond the CMS Notice: How ACA Renewal Communications Can Drive Member Retention

Health plans should expect record ACA enrollments in 2022 — thanks ARP!

American Rescue Plan equates to huge opportunities for insurers

directchoiceinc