Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
As Enrollment Deadline Approaches, Last-Minute Surge Overwhelms Call Centers
The New York Times: As Health Care Act Insurance Deadline Nears, ‘Unprecedented Demand’
Milwaukee, Detroit and Philadelphia have done the best among 20 cities competing to sign up people for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, while Dallas, Denver and Las Vegas are lagging, the White House said Monday ahead of Tuesday’s deadline to enroll for coverage that takes effect on Jan. 1. A surge of callers temporarily overwhelmed the government’s capacity to enroll consumers on Monday, prompting officials to record telephone numbers so they could return calls later to arrange for coverage. (Pear, 12/14)
NBC News: Feds Make Push As Obamacare Sign-Up Deadline Arrives Tuesday
Tuesday's the last day for people to sign up for health insurance on the Obamacare exchanges if they want coverage to start Jan. 1, and federal officials are making a last-minute push. This is the third year people will be able to buy federally subsidized health insurance on the government-sponsored exchanges, and while no one expects people to sign up in the millions like they did during the disastrous first-year rollout, officials said the websites were busy. (Fox, 12/14)
USA Today: Late Rush Before Open Enrollment Deadline Jams Federal Phone Lines
Consumers anxious to beat the midnight Tuesday deadline to enroll on the federal insurance exchange overwhelmed call center lines Monday, federal officials said. Some people were being asked to leave their names so they could be called back after the deadline to be enrolled. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said they would still be able to have coverage effective Jan. 1 if they left their contact information before the deadline. (O'Donnell, 12/14)
NPR: Obamacare Sign-Ups Could Get A Bump As Higher Penalties Kick In
Tuesday is the last day to choose a health plan under the Affordable Care Act if you want insurance coverage to begin by Jan. 1. And officials who have spent the last two years using the carrot of persuasion to get people to buy insurance through the state or federal exchanges say the time has come for the stick. That stick is a hefty fine. (Kodjak, 12/15)
Meanwhile, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell travels to Texas to highlight a success --
The San Antonio Express News: Burwell Spotlights Health Insurance Enrollment At San Antonio H-E-B
The nation’s top health services official stood in the middle of the produce section at an H-E-B grocery store on San Antonio’s East Side Monday to talk about affordability and access. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell’s reason for venturing into the store was clear. She wanted to remind consumers of today’s enrollment deadline for those wanting their health insurance policies to become active Jan. 1. And she wanted to spotlight the new and improved HealthCare.gov enrollment website and its low-cost options for Texans. (O'Hare, 12/14)
