American Rescue Plan Act offers expanded premium subsidies and tax credits for new and existing members
FARGO, N.D. – Following the signing of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) urges members who are enrolled in a marketplace health care plan or are looking to enroll in a marketplace health care plan to review their options for potential savings. The ARPA increases and expands on eligibility for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies, which allows more North Dakotans to access coverage at a reduced rate. The ARPA tax credit began April 1, 2021, and runs through 2022.
“We do our best to put our members’ and our neighbors’ best interests at the forefront of everything we do,” shared BCBSND President and CEO Dan Conrad. “We want to make sure that those who carry health insurance coverage from a plan purchased on the marketplace are taking advantage of potential savings as much as possible.”
This piece of legislation temporarily expands advanced premium tax credits to individuals with incomes above 400% of the federal poverty level and increases the generosity of the tax credits for those with incomes between 100 and 400% of the federal poverty line. For those enrolled, plan premium contributions are set at zero for anyone with an income up to 150% of the federal poverty line.
Additionally, the ARPA qualifies anyone who received unemployment during 2021 for a zero premium benchmark plan regardless of family income, beginning July 1, 2021.
“To this point, North Dakotans may not have been able to apply for tax credits based on their income. With this new ARPA, it increases the eligibility amount of income, allowing anyone who received any unemployment in 2021 to be eligible, regardless of current income,” Conrad added.
Please visit https://www.healthcare.gov/more-savings/ for detailed coverage information and details.
Download the American Rescue Plan Fact Sheet
About Blue Cross Blue Shield of North DakotaBlue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) was founded in 1940 with the mission to provide members with affordable access to health care across the state. As a member-owned, not-for-profit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, BCBSND continues to provide the best value in health care coverage through unmatched local service and access to a comprehensive network of health care providers across the state, across the nation and in 200 countries.
