05/07/2024

How the Government is Trying to Stop Rogue Brokers from Plaguing ACA Enrollees

There are no easy fixes to protect these people

Among his many accomplishments, President Joe Biden counts the record-high number of people — more than 21 million — who enrolled in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as "Obamacare," plans this year. Behind the scenes, however, federal regulators are contending with a problem that affects people's coverage: rogue brokers who have signed people up for Affordable Care Act plans, or switched them into new ones, without their permission.

Now the administration is trying to find a way to thwart the bad actors without affecting ACA sign-ups.

Unauthorized changes can cause affected policyholders to lose access to medical care, pay higher deductibles, or even incur surprise tax bills. Complaints about them rose sharply in recent months, according to brokers who contacted KFF Health News and federal workers who asked not to be identified.

Please select this link to read the complete article from NPR.