Biden is pushing for broader access to health insurance. How you might benefit

An estimated 4 million uninsured individuals could get an ACA plan with no premium payment and 4.9 million more could get subsidies to reduce the cost of such a plan, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The premium subsidies through the exchanges are available to families whose income is from 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level, based on household size. That translates into income from $12,760 to $51,040. For a family of four, it would be $26,200 to $104,800.

Meanwhile, in states that expanded Medicaid, you can qualify for coverage through the program if your income is no more than 138% of the federal poverty level. For an individual, that would mean up to $17,609; for a family of four, $36,156. It’s also worth noting that if you qualify for Medicaid, you can sign up at any time.

Biden also has other plans to expand coverage and affordability. His $1.9 trillion Covid stimulus proposal, unveiled last week, includes a provision that would limit the amount paid for health insurance premiums to 8.5% of income.

He also wants to subsidize COBRA coverage — the right to continue employer-sponsored insurance after job loss — through September. It remains uncertain whether these proposals will be included in any stimulus bill that gets voted on.

Separately, some of Biden’s health-care proposals face an uphill battle in Congress. The Senate is split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, with Vice President Kamala Harris getting the tie-breaking vote. However, many bills need a 60-vote majority to clear the upper chamber.