Former President Barack Obama visited the White House on Tuesday afternoon, his first return since leaving office five years ago.
Obama's withdrawal was tied to an event to mark the 12th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, a signature legislative achievement under his administration. At the event, President Biden unveiled an extension of that law.
The visit comes as Biden faces the lowest approval rating of his presidency and months of low popularity and disapproval linked to his handling of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
"It's good to be back in the White House," Obama said at the event with Biden and Vice President Harris. "Nothing made me prouder than providing better health care and more protection to millions of people across this country. So when President Biden said he was not just going to celebrate the ACA but announce actions that Will make it even better, I had to show."
The White House announced the removal of the "family glitch" that prevents millions of families from qualifying for subsidies on health insurance markets, even if a family member can access an affordable individual plan through their job.
The White House estimates that the fix - which if finalized will go into effect next January - could increase insurance capacity for nearly one million people and give up to 200,000 uninsured individuals access to coverage.
"This proposed rule will be the most significant administrative action to improve the implementation of the ACA since its implementation," the White House said in a statement on Tuesday.
Biden signed an executive order instructing agencies to continue to do everything in their power to make health care more accessible and affordable, and to make enrollment and coverage easier.
Expanding the ACA was a core pledge of Biden's 2020 presidential campaign - a move that instead strayed from many progressive calls for a Medicare for All plan.
"We knew we had to keep strengthening this law," Biden said. "The bottom line is that the American Care Act is now stronger than ever."
Biden allocated $34 billion to the ACA as part of a US rescue plan, a $1.9 trillion COVID relief package. The plan included increasing access to ACA subsidies, although this provision is due to expire at the end of 2022.
In addition to Obama's appearance at the event, Biden had lunch with the former president. Their meeting came just three weeks after Obama announced he had tested positive for COVID-19.
"They are real friends, not just friends of Washington," said White House press secretary Jen Psaki. "I'm sure they will talk about world events as well as their family and personal lives."