ObamaCare Surges in Red States

Axios reported a record 21.3 million people signed up for health insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. Surprisingly, the largest enrollment increases were in heavily Republican states. States with the largest year-over-year increase in sign-ups include West Virginia (80.2%), Louisiana (75.9%), Ohio (62.2%), Indiana (59.6%) and Tennessee (59.5%). Seven other states saw increases of 45% or more: Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Texas. Better late than never.

The 30.7% annual increase in ACA sign-ups comes as Trump calls for repeal again. He has not offered an alternative plan.

Enrollment figures released indicate that Republican-leaning states would be negatively affected by the law’s repeal.

Democrats made marketplace subsidies larger and available to more people, though the enhanced assistance is set to expire after 2025 without an extension from Congress.