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A special enrollment period is still open through Aug. 15 for Texas residents to sign up for healthcare through the ACA Health Care marketplace.
The ongoing special enrollment period allows people to sign up for coverage at Healthcare.gov, according to CNBC News. Qualifying Americans may be eligible for low-cost or even free private health insurance.
"Thanks to the #AmericanRescuePlan, HHS has been able to keep the ACA Health Care marketplace open for enrollment since January, leading to record numbers of Texans signing up for health care," U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Houston) wrote in an Aug. 8 Twitter post. "There's one more week until enrollment ends."
Since earlier this year, at least one million people have successful acquired coverage through the marketplace, which was authorized by the Affordable Care Act of 2010. Millions more were able to lower their premiums.
This special enrollment period was approved by the American Rescue Plan Act, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden last March. The plan offered larger subsidies and expanded eligibility.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services estimates that about 60% of uninsured Americans may be eligible for free health care, according to The Motley Fool. Anyone who has received unemployment benefits earlier this year is advised to check if they qualify for zero-premium health coverage.
The Motley Fool recommends that those who are uninsured should purchase health care even if they don't qualify for free health coverage since medical debt could be financially devastating and leads many debtors to file for bankruptcy.
Democrats have proposed extending these health care subsidies through a $3.5 trillion budget plan, according to CNBC News.
After Aug. 15, only those with a qualifying life event will be able to apply for coverage.
Workers that get health care from their employer are not eligible to apply for coverage through the marketplace.