Photo: Doug Mills / POOL / EFE
President Joe Biden is reopening enrollment in federal exchanges for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as Obamacare , as part of two executive actions of health care that he signed on Thursday, taking a step to help uninsured Americans, which former President Donald Trump refused to take despite the coronavirus pandemic.
It is Biden’s first step in fulfilling his campaign promise to enforce the historic healthcare reform law that he championed as vice president. And it occurs when more Americans could be facing the loss of coverage, due to the economic recession driven by the coronavirus pandemic.
“Today, I am about to sign two executive orders that basically, the best way to describe them, is that they are to undo the damage that Trump has done”, said Biden. “There is nothing new we are doing here other than restoring the Affordable Care Act and restoring Medicaid to the way it was before Trump became in president. ”
This afternoon, I took action to restore and strengthen Americans’ access to quality, affordable health care. The issue is personal to me – and now more than ever, I’m committed to ensuring everyone has access to the care they need. pic.twitter.com/2tFsLc7DW7
– President Biden (@POTUS) January 28, 2021
Open enrollment on federal exchanges, which the Trump administration cut in half, leaving it in six weeks, ended on 15 from December. But Biden has the power to reopen enrollment, which will allow the uninsured to select health policies under a special enrollment period. .
New registration period
Biden’s order asks the Department of Health and Human Services to reopen registration on healthcare.gov, which serves 36 states, who need coverage, from 15 February through 15 of May. The agency did so on Thursday.
“As we continue to fight Covid – 19, it is even more critical that Americans have meaningful access to health care, ”Biden said.
Little After the President signed the executive order, California announced that it would open its trade from February 1 to 15 of May.
Executive Orders to Quickly Change Trump Policies
As part of Thursday’s executive measures, Biden is ordering federal agencies to reexamine a multitude of actions taken by his predecessor.
“He changed and made it more inaccessible, more expensive and more difficult for people to qualify for any of those two elements, the Affordable Care Act or Medicaid, ”Biden said.
These include policies that weaken protection ions for people with pre-existing conditions and who undermine Obamacare or other health insurance markets .
Today’s actions are the first step in ensuring every American has access to quality, affordable health care. pic.twitter.com/Csj6nQxc9m
– President Biden (@POTUS) January 28, 2021
He also wants agencies to review measures that hinder Medicaid enrollment and the Affordable Care Act and that reduce affordability or financial assistance, even for dependents.
And the President is asking agencies to examine the Medicaid and Affordable Care Act waivers and demonstration projects that the Trump administration passed or implemented that may reduce coverage or undermine programs, including work requirements.
Agencies will also consider whether additional actions are needed to strengthen and protect access to health care.
Protect women’s health
Another order signed by President Biden on Thursday aims to safeguard women’s health and rights in the United States and abroad.
Biden’s order to protect women’s health overturns the Trump administration’s global reproductive health gag rule called “Mexico City Policy” , which prohibited US funds from going to nonprofit organizations that provide abortion or reproductive rights counseling.
The White House said the The action reflects the Biden administration’s policy of “supporting the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls” in the United States and around the world.
