ICYMI: Record Surge in Americans Accessing Affordable Health Care in 2024, Building on Our Current Health System 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The latest data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reveals an unprecedented number of Americans securing affordable and high-quality health care coverage through the current system in the 2024 Open Enrollment Period. This, plus the rise in employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) and Medicare coverage, are continued proof points that Americans have access and choices to access the care they want and need. Put simply, building on our current system and not starting over with a public option or Medicare for all, is what Americans want to see. 

New exchange enrollment data shows that:  

• A record-high 21.3 million Americans signed up for health care plans through the Marketplace since the start of the 2024 Open Enrollment Period on November 1, 2023. (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 01/24/24) 

• “Total nationwide plan selections include 5 million consumers (24% of total) who are new to the Marketplaces for 2024, and 16.3 million consumers (76% of total) who have active 2023 coverage and returned to their respective Marketplaces to renew or select a new plan for 2024.” (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 01/24/24) 

• As of December 31, there were “22.4 million plan selections within states using HealthCare.gov, or approximately 15%, were made by individuals who were previously enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP coverage.” (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 01/24/24) 

Recent data on ESI and Medicare enrollment shows that our current system is working to provide greater access and choices to the health care coverage they want:  

• “Employer-sponsored health insurance (ESI) is the largest source of health coverage for non-elderly people, covering 60.4% of this population in March 2023.” (Kaiser Family Foundation, 12/22/23) 
• The most recent Medicare enrollment data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) shows that 69.3 million Americans were enrolled in the program in 2021. (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 9/01/2023) 

Polling continues to show that building on what’s working in health care is the most popular health care reform proposal among voters (67% support). Instead of starting over with unaffordable proposals like the public option, Medicare at 60, and Medicare for All, lawmakers should continue to advance proven policies that build on what already works in health care. 

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