Arizonans Must Act Fast: Sunday Deadline Approaches for 2025 ACA Health Insurance Enrollment

Arizonans aiming to secure health insurance under the Affordable Care Act must finalize their selections by Sunday, December 15, for coverage to commence on January 1. The deadline may seem pressing, but individuals who miss it can still apply until January 15, 2025, on healthcare.gov.

This past year, enrollment surged dramatically, with over 348,000 Arizonans registering for plans through the Obamacare Marketplace, marking a 32 percent increase from approximately 235,000 in 2023. Dr. Jeffrey Reynoso, the Southwest regional director for Health and Human Services, highlighted various initiatives responsible for this uptick in enrollment, including enhanced tax credits and outreach efforts aimed at educating the public on their coverage options.

Substantial benefits from the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act have played a crucial role in making insurance more affordable. The act has increased tax credits, capping coverage costs at 8.5 percent of a household’s income. Notably, families earning below 150 percent of the federal poverty level—around $45,000 for a family of four—can secure plans with no premium.

According to the Biden administration, four out of five individuals shopping for health insurance will find options costing less than $10 per month. However, these subsidies are set to expire at the end of next year, casting uncertainty on the future of the Affordable Care Act as Republican lawmakers prepare to assume control of Congress in January.

In a recent interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, President-elect Donald Trump referred to the policies available through the ACA’s marketplace as “lousy health care,” criticizing both the cost and efficacy of the plans. While he expressed a desire to address issues like coverage for pre-existing conditions, concrete proposals for reforming the system remain unclear.

Trump indicated he had “concepts of a plan” to revamp health care, yet his previous attempts to repeal the ACA in 2017 were thwarted without a viable alternative. He emphasized the need for collaboration with Democrats to develop a “better answer.”

People seeking help with their applications can reach out to “navigators,” professionals trained to assist in the enrollment process. For those interested, visiting healthcare.gov allows for a comparison of available plans, while local navigator support can be found at localhelp.healthcare.gov.