Â鶹ŮÓÅ

Millions of Americans who bought individual health insurance outside the Affordable Care Act's public exchanges may be leaving money on the table if they skip those marketplaces again in picking 2017 coverage, a new report says. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 2.5 million people who bought so-called off-exchange coverage for this year might have income levels that qualify them for tax credits to help pay the premium. (Murphy, 10/4)

About 2.5 million people are missing out on tax credits to lower the cost of their insurance, because they are buying health insurance plans off the federal and state health care exchanges, federal regulators said Tuesday. Those earning between 100 and 400% of the federal poverty level —  up to $100,000 for a family of four — are eligible for tax credits that lower the cost of their insurance premiums. People who make less than 100% of the poverty level were supposed to be eligible for Medicaid under Obamacare, but nearly 20 states have opted against expanding the program. (O'Donnell, 10/4)

Millions of people in the U.S. may be missing out on funds available under Obamacare to help them afford health insurance, the federal government said, as the fourth sign-up season for the program approaches. About 2.5 million people with individual or family insurance plans outside of Obamacare could be eligible for tax subsidies if they bought through the program, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services said in a report Tuesday. In addition, about 9 million people who are uninsured may be eligible for subsidies to help them buy plans, according to the report. (Tracer, 10/4)

Tens of thousands of Tennesseans who buy individual health insurance plans directly from a carrier rather than using healthcare.gov may qualify for tax credits, new federal data shows. A report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources concludes that there could be as many as 79,000 Tennesseans who would qualify for tax credits to offset monthly insurance premiums if they bought plans on the federally run exchange as opposed to shopping what's called "off-exchange" plans, which are not eligible for tax credits, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources. (Fletcher, 10/4)

With four weeks left until the start of open enrollment, the federal government released estimates Tuesday that show millions of Americans could benefit from financial assistance if they shopped for individual coverage on HealthCare.gov as opposed to purchasing coverage off-exchange. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that about 6.9 million Americans buy individual health care coverage off the exchange. Of that number, nearly 2.5 million may have income levels that qualify them for financial help to pay insurance premiums. That includes 83,000 people in Missouri and 130,000 in Illinois, HHS said. (Liss, 10/4)

As it enters its seventh year, the Affordable Care Act is facing challenges, leading some to speculate that the law will have to change in order to survive. From insurers leaving federal exchanges to problems getting young, healthy consumers enrolled, the Affordable Care Act has had a bumpy ride of late. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell acknowledged that changes are needed to improve competition, affordability and access. (Ochoa, 10/4)