'obamacare' Hits Record Enrollment But An Uncertain Future Awaits Under Trump

A record 24 million people have signed up for insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act , former President Barack Obama's landmark health legislation, as the program awaits an uncertain future under a Republican-controlled White House and Congress.

Never have so many people enrolled in health care coverage through the government marketplace, a point of pride for many Democrats but a red flag to some Republicans.

President Joe Biden has pushed an expansion of the program, signing into law billions of dollars in tax credits that expanded who qualified for the health insurance and lowered its cost. Millions of additional Americans can now pay monthly premiums of just a few dollars to get coverage.

The increased enrollment is "no coincidence," Biden said in a statement. "When I took office, I made a promise to the American people that I would bring down the cost of health care and prescription drugs, make signing up for coverage easier, and strengthen the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and Medicaid."

But incoming President-elect Donald Trump has maligned "Obamacare" for years. He unsuccessfully tried to dismantle it during his first term, and has promised changes - without offering a concrete plan - during his second term. Enrollment dropped during Trump's first term, with his administration investing less money in the program, including for navigators who help people enroll in the coverage.