Open Enrollment Finishes Strong, But Some Say Demand Was Lower Than Previous Deadline
The new administration pulled outreach efforts last week, and as the Tuesday deadline arrived, enrollment volunteers noticed a decrease in demand from last year.
The Wall Street Journal:
Amid Political Rancor, ACA Sign-Up Deadline Arrives
Last-minute sign-ups for coverage under the Affordable Care Act continued across the country Tuesday as Senate Democrats stalled the confirmation of a new health and human services secretary expected to take a leading role in unwinding the 2010 law. ... The “open enrollment” season for 2017 coverage bookended the tumultuous presidential transition. It began a week before Election Day delivered sweeping victories to Republicans promising to overturn the health law they dub Obamacare, and it was set to finish 11 days after Democrats relinquished control of a government tasked with implementing the law. (Radnofsky, 1/31)
Politico:
With Less Fanfare, Obamacare Sign-Ups Roll To A Finish
Obamacare enrollment efforts appear to be headed for a strong, if not overwhelming, finish on what is likely the last day to sign up for health law coverage in its present form. Several advocates working in states that use the federal site HealthCare.gov said they were swamped with enrollment appointments and phone calls from consumers, despite the Trump administration's decision to pull millions of dollars of advertising urging people to act before a midnight Tuesday deadline. But enrollment volunteers across the country said demand wasn’t as high as what they experienced around Dec. 15, the deadline to have health coverage at the start of the year. (Pradhan and Demko, 1/31)
The New York Times:
Talk Of Repeal Sends People Running To, And From, Affordable Care Act
A flurry of actions by President Trump and Congress against the Affordable Care Act injected confusion and uncertainty into the final weeks of the annual period to sign up for coverage, and many, but not all, enrollment groups were reporting a drop in people seeking insurance as the deadline loomed on Tuesday. (Goodnough and Pear, 1/31)
CQ Roll Call:
Supporters See Heavy Obamacare Sign-Up Traffic In Final Stretch
Americans scrambled to sign up for health insurance Tuesday, the last day of the open enrollment sign-up period for 2017 coverage, even as Hill Republicans continued to press forward with efforts to replace the law that created HealthCare.gov and the other marketplaces. The Trump administration, unlike former President Barack Obama's, didn't herald the heavy volume of calls to support centers or tout the outsized interest. Instead, those messages came from outside groups and state-based exchanges in pockets of the country that are still support the law. (Williams and Mershon, 1/31)
Meanwhile, in the states —
Pioneer Press:
Extra Insurance Choice For Consumers In Final Week As Medica Re-Enters Market
Minnesotans buying health insurance on the state’s individual market have endured a lot the past year, from delayed tax forms to skyrocketing premiums and shrinking networks to growing uncertainty about the future. In the past week, though, all the news has been good. Following the Thursday passage of a $300 million premium relief package and Saturday’s extension of the 2017 enrollment period by a week to Feb. 8, Tuesday brought another welcome surprise: a last-minute re-entry into the market by an insurer that dropped out months ago. (Montgomery, 1/31)
Denver Post:
Colorado’s Health Insurance Exchange Extends Deadline To Enroll, Amid Surge In Sign-Ups – The Denver Post
Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace, is extending the deadline for people to sign up for coverage this year. If customers began the enrollment process by midnight Tuesday — the previous deadline — they will now have until 6 p.m. Friday to complete registration. Coverage will still kick in by March 1. Connect for Health Colorado is where people in the state buy health insurance plans and receive tax credits under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Even if the health insurance law is repealed, the plans will remain valid for the year. (Ingold, 1/31)
Houston Chronicle:
Final Day Of ACA Enrollment Wrapped In Uncertainty
Just after 4 p.m. Tuesday, Princess Osuchukwu didn't need to say a word as she headed for the door at the storefront enrollment center in a north Houston strip mall. The relief was in her eyes, the set of her shoulders, the smile that stretched wide. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all so much," the 48-year-old Nigerian-born green card holder, her health insurance in hand, called out merrily to no one in particular in what were the final hours of the final day of an enrollment period for a law that may soon be dismantled. (Deam, 1/31)
Sacramento Bee:
Covered California Extends Jan. 31 Deadline For Health Insurance
Anticipating a last-minute surge in enrollments, Covered California extended its Jan. 31 sign-up deadline, saying it would help more Californians “cross the finish line” to health care coverage. “We expect a surge in large numbers in these last hours,” said Covered California spokesman Roy Kennedy, “and we want to be sure that everyone can get the coverage they need and the benefits they deserve. ”To qualify for the extended paperwork deadline, Californians must start the enrollment process by midnight on Jan. 31, but have until Saturday to finish the paperwork. (Buck, 1/31)
