Posted January 28th, 2021 for American Progress Washington, D.C. — Today, President Joe Biden signed a series of executive orders to expand access to health care coverage, including reopening enrollment through the Affordable Care Act marketplace by triggering a COVID-19 special enrollment period (SEP) and rolling back Trump-era policies designed to inhibit access to Medicaid. Maura Calsyn , interim vice president of Health Policy at the Center for American Progress, released the following statement: From allowing states to impose burdensome work and certification requirements for Medicaid to shortening the period to sign up for coverage on HealthCare.gov, the previous administration took numerous steps to restrict access to health insurance. In creating a COVID-19 SEP, like CAP recommended last year, and taking early steps to tear down barriers to accessing Medicaid, President Biden is turning the page and making it easier for the American people to acquire and maintain coverage. With more than 25 million Americans having tested positive for COVID-19 over the past year, these steps could provide meaningful security to thousands of families.