Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a report showing the trend of lower premiums and increased issuer participation for HealthCare.gov will continue for plan year 2021. The average premium for the second lowest cost silver plan (also called the benchmark plan) dropped by 2% for the 2021 coverage year and, when looking at states that are using HealthCare.gov in both 2020 and 2021, 22 more issuers will offer coverage in 2021, for a total of 181 issuers delivering more choice and competition for consumers. To view the full press release, go to: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/premiums-healthcaregov-plans-are-lower-third-consecutive-year

The Health Insurance Exchange 2021 Open Enrollment period is November 1, 2020 to December 15, 2020, with coverage beginning on January 1, 2021. Ahead of the Open Enrollment period, CMS is also releasing the HealthCare.gov scheduled maintenance windows for the upcoming Open Enrollment period. Every year, CMS establishes scheduled maintenance windows that provide periods of time when CMS and its partners can make updates or resolve issues, if needed. To view the Scheduled Maintenance Windows, visit: https://marketplace.cms.gov/technical-assistance-resources/2021-open-enrollment-healthcaregov-maintenance-windows.pdf

To view the 2021 Health Insurance Exchange Premium Landscape Issue Brief, visit: https://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Data-Resources/Downloads/2021QHPPremiumsChoiceReport.pdf

To see the 2021 Issuer Participation County Map; visit: 

https://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Programs-and-Initiatives/Health-Insurance-Marketplaces/Downloads/10-16-2020-County-Coverage-Map.pdf

To view the Trends in Subsidized and Unsubsidized Enrollment; visit: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/unsubsidized-enrollment-individual-market-dropped-45-percent-2016-2019-0