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Nearly 7.3 million Americans so far have signed up for health insurance for next year through the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) marketplace, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday. The enrolment for 2024 includes 1.6 million new additions to the marketplace, the data showed. (12/6)

If people want benefits starting Jan. 1, they have until Dec. 15 to apply to enroll for their ACA benefits. (Woodruff, 12/6)

A record number of people signing up for Obamacare policies. Nine more states expanding Medicaid coverage to more than 2 million adults. Much higher favorability ratings among the public. Another victory for the landmark health reform law in the nation’s highest court. These are among the main reasons why it would be even tougher than it was in 2017 for Republicans to try to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, even if they secure control of the White House and Congress next year. (Luhby, 12/7)

According to our Nov. 30-Dec. 2 survey, 57% of voters approve of the Affordable Care Act, while just 3 in 10 voters disapprove. Roughly a third of voters (32%) said Obamacare should be repealed partially or completely, lower than at any other time in Morning Consult surveys conducted since 2017. The same share said the law should be expanded and 1 in 5 want it to be kept as is. (Yokely, 12/6)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis provided some broad details of a plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, a goal Republicans have sought to achieve since the law’s inception. Asked how he would deliver on the issue given Florida’s level of uninsured people, DeSantis said he’d focus on lowering costs, focus on price transparency and hold pharmaceutical companies accountable. (12/6)

To combat these challenges, several possible solutions can be explored. Government policies can play a crucial role in incentivizing healthcare providers to prioritize patient-centered care and improve overall quality. Promoting a value-based care model that incentivizes providers based on patient outcomes could help lower patient costs in the long term. In addition, public-private partnerships can be formed to increase the availability of healthcare services in underserved communities. These collaborations can focus on creating accessible care options, such as telemedicine programs, to expand access to care. Furthermore, insurance companies can look to reduce out-of-pocket costs by negotiating lower prices for common treatments and medications. (Ketchel, 12/4)

Sixth Circuit judges grappled Wednesday with whether two groups representing conservative doctors should have a chance to challenge an antidiscrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act that they say threatens their religious liberty, in a case that presents the possibility of a circuit split. The judges grilled attorneys on both sides on a range of topics related to the care of transgender people, though standing for the two groups—the American College of Pediatricians and the Catholic Medical Association—was the issue of the day for the oral argument, which went more than 10 minutes past the allotted time. Two other federal appeals courts have already ruled on the issue. (Heisig, 12/6)