ACA is working in Iowa, progressive group says

Nearly one month into the second health insurance open enrollment season, one group is touting the Affordable Care Act's success and urging the uninsured to sign up for health insurance.

'There's a lot of political back and forth,” said Tony Clark, the Center for American Progress vice president of policy and research, during a conference call with reporters Wednesday. The Center for American Progress is a progressive research and educational institute based in Washington, D.C.

'The Affordable Care Act is working - providing quality, affordable health care to millions of Americans - but there still is work to do,” Clark said.

The ACA gave more than 125,000 Iowans access to health insurance in 2014, according to the group. Additionally, the majority of Iowans - about 83 percent - were eligible for financial assistance to help cover the cost of care.

Last year, 29,163 Iowans signed up for health care through the federal exchange, while more than 100,000 gained coverage through the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan - the state's new Medicaid program.

On average, tax credits lowered the cost of health plans by 69 percent, from $350 to $108, according to Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa, a multi-issue progressive advocacy organization. Progress Iowa projects the state's Medicaid expansion could help the economy grow by $273 million over two years. The group said the expansion also helped save Iowa hospitals more than $32 million.

'But there are still thousands and thousands of Iowans without health insurance,” Sinovic said, adding that about 10.3 percent of the state's residents are uninsured.

Enrollment opened for 2015 plans on Nov. 15 and will close on Feb. 15. Consumers must sign up by Dec. 15 in order to have health care coverage begin on Jan. 1.

Karen Wielert, a health care navigator for Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, said she has helped adults from 18 to 65 years of age sign up for insurance through the state marketplace on Healthcare.gov.

'I've seen a whole range of people asking for help,” she said.

The U.S. government said Wednesday that 618,548 individuals selected a 2015 health plan on the federal marketplace during the week of Nov. 29 to Dec. 5. About 48 percent were consumers who had not previously purchased this insurance.

More than 7 million people signed up for insurance in 2014. The government expects more than 9 million to enroll in 2015.

Since Nov. 15, 1,383,683 people have signed up for plans and of those, more than 664,000 were new consumers who did not previously have a plan, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said on its website.

Reuters contributed to this article.