Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Bruised And Battered Health Law's Open Enrollment Period Starts Today Amid Much Confusion
The New York Times: As Open Enrollment For Obamacare Begins, Confusion Reigns
David Branch knew that his job, helping people sign up for Obamacare, would be harder this year. But Mr. Branch didn’t fully realize the scope of his challenge until a group that he approached with his fliers insisted that the Affordable Care Act had been repealed. “They said: ‘Why are you guys here? Obamacare is done,’ ” Mr. Branch recalled Friday as he finished a training session here. (Goodnough and Pear, 10/31)
Politico: The Bicoastal Bid To Shore Up Obamacare
Two big blue states on opposite sides of the country have a mission: Save Obamacare. California and New York, which run their own health insurance exchanges and will spend tens of millions this year on marketing and outreach, don’t expect to have a stellar year in the sign-up season that starts Wednesday. (Colliver and Goldberg, 11/1)
USA Today: Insurers, Ex-Obama Officials Promote Wednesday Insurance Enrollment
Insurers, some states and former Obama administration officials are heavily promoting the Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment that starts Wednesday to make up for the lack of marketing the law is getting by President Trump's administration. "We are as an industry doing everything we can," says Kelly Turek, an executive director with trade group America's Health Insurance Plans. (O'Donnell, 10/31)
NPR: As Enrollment Opens For ACA Plans, States And Insurers Step Up Promotion
Can a puppy video get you to buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act exchanges? Florida Blue, a major insurer in that state, hopes the answer is yes. "It's hard to resist puppies, right? Let's just be honest," says Penny Shaffer, the insurer's South Florida regional market president, who talked to WLRN's Sammy Mack. In the video, puppies tumble while the announcer pitches, in Spanish, affordable plans and personalized service. (Grayson, 10/31)
And in open enrollment news from the states —
The Associated Press: Amid Federal Health Chaos, MNsure Takes Own Path For 2018
Open enrollment began Wednesday for Minnesota shoppers who buy health insurance on their own, and the head of the state's health insurance exchange says Minnesota is well-positioned to help residents sign up for coverage amid the federal confusion about health care. (11/1)
Minnesota Public Radio: What To Expect As ACA Open Enrollment Begins
The Trump administration has instituted several changes to ACA implementation, including cutting payments to insurers that help millions of lower-income Americans afford coverage — which has driven up premiums — and slashing advertising and outreach budgets. (Miller, 10/31)
Minnesota Public Radio: MNsure Open Enrollment Kicks Off This Week
Wednesday marks the beginning of open enrollment for Minnesotans buying health insurance on the individual market. Only about 170,000 Minnesotans buy insurance on that market — a small percentage of the state's population — but they've been a focus of the heath care debate because rates have increased dramatically in recent years. (Weber and Erickson, 10/31)
Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald: Whether It's Medicare, Medicaid, ACA Or Employer-Based, Clock Is Ticking On Health Care Sign-Ups
Now is the time to enroll in health insurance for 2018, whether you’re looking for Medicare, Medicaid, Affordable Care Act plans or — like more than half of Nebraskans and Iowans — employer-based coverage. Although health insurance details and sign-up dates vary, there’s one thing in common, even for TriCare, the government health system for military families: It’s up to you to find the best plan to fit your needs — and most people have only a few weeks to do that. (Jordan, 11/1)
Seattle Times: Assault On Obamacare Creates ‘Unique Challenges’ In Washington State As Enrollment Starts
A summer assault on the Affordable Care Act by the Trump administration and Congress has confused consumers as annual enrollment for the health-insurance program opens Wednesday. “Every year is a challenge, and this year we have a unique set of challenges,” said Michael Marchand, chief marketing officer and spokesman for the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, which runs the state’s health-insurance marketplace. (Blethen, 10/31)
The Associated Press: As Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Opens, Colorado Will Be Strikingly Different From Most Other States
The Trump administration’s efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act have health care advocates and insurers concerned that the open enrollment period will be one of chaos and confusion. That’s not true everywhere.A dozen states operate their own health insurance marketplaces, maintaining control over advertising and the help they can offer consumers. That will create a striking difference when open enrollment begins Wednesday between those states and the others that rely on the federal marketplace, essentially creating a tale of two countries. (Potter, 10/29)
Kaiser Health News: Funding For ACA Sign-Up Campaigns Varies Widely From State To State
If you buy insurance on your own and have been paying attention to the Affordable Care Act, you’ve probably heard that open enrollment for 2018 plans has just started and the government is spending a lot less money this year to get the word out. That’s true in the 39 states that rely on healthcare.gov. But circumstances are different in some of the 11 states plus the District of Columbia that run their own ACA websites and marketplaces. (Zdechlik, 11/1)
Richmond Times-Dispatch: Officials Prepare For Shortest ACA Open Enrollment Period Ever
Wednesday marks the beginning of an enrollment period for the federal health insurance marketplace that will last half as long as previous years — but most people don’t know that. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that 75 percent of those who are already enrolled in a marketplace plan, and 95 percent of the uninsured, are unaware that the enrollment period ends this year on Dec. 15. (O'Connor, 10/31)
St. Louis Post Dispatch: Here's What Missourians Need To Know About HealthCare.Gov Coverage For 2018
It’s time to shop for coverage again on HealthCare.gov, and for some it’ll mean steep increases and restrictive networks. Wednesday marks the fifth time consumers across the country can begin shopping for health insurance coverage through HealthCare.gov, a product of President Barack Obama’s landmark health bill. (Liss, 11/1)
Kaiser Health News: Timeline: Roadblocks To Affordable Care Act Enrollment
President Donald Trump’s decision last month to cut off payments to insurers for discounts they provide to some low-income people who buy individual health coverage was big news. But it was far from the first time the president and his administration have sought to deter enrollment on the insurance marketplaces set up by the Affordable Care Act. Enrollment for 2018 plans begins Nov. 1 and runs through Dec. 15. Over the course of the year, the administration has announced a variety of changes that affect sign-ups. (Rovner, 11/1)
For All Of KHN's Open Enrollment Coverage, Visit https://kffhealthnews.org/enrollment
