Handful Of States Continuing Health Enrollment Efforts For Some Consumers
Many states -- and the federal government -- have extended the deadline for people who were in the process of enrolling but hadn't finished by last Sunday. But in some areas, the extensions are even more generous. In addition, Illinois' marketplace director resigns and Connecticut's acting chief gets the job in his state.
USA Today:
For Some, There's Still Time To Enroll In Obamacare
Miss the Obamacare deadline last Sunday? You may still be able to sign up for health coverage. The federal government and every state running its own health insurance exchange have extended deadlines for some consumers – although the rules differ depending on where you live. Jennifer Sullivan, director of the Best Practices Institute for the non-profit Enroll America, suggests people look into the rules in their own states if they think they might qualify. (Ungar and O'Donnell, 2/19)
The Associated Press:
Executive Director Of Get Covered Illinois Resigns
A key government leader in Illinois' health insurance enrollment efforts over the past two years has resigned. Jennifer Koehler was executive director of Get Covered Illinois and part of former Gov. Pat Quinn's administration. She oversaw federal grant programs promoting insurance coverage, including advertising and in-person outreach. (2/19)
Connecticut Mirror:
Special CT Obamacare Enrollment Period? Stay Tuned
People who didn’t have insurance last year – and didn’t have a valid excuse – will have to pay a fee when they file their taxes. That might prompt them to want to get coverage this year. But for those who haven’t filed their taxes yet, it will be too late, because the sign-up period for individual-market insurance ended Sunday. That’s led some to urge health insurance exchanges to hold special enrollment periods for people who paid fees for not having insurance on their taxes. The head of Connecticut’s exchange, acting Access Health CT CEO Jim Wadleigh, said he’s gotten a number of requests to do so. He said officials will announce a decision at the end of February. (Levin Becker, 2/19)
Connecticut Mirror:
Wadleigh Named CEO Of Access Health CT
Jim Wadleigh, who has led Connecticut’s health insurance exchange on an interim basis since September, was named its chief executive Thursday. (Levin Becker, 2/19)
Health News Colorado:
Exchange Sign-Ups Well Short Of 2015 Projections
Dogged by glitches, Colorado’s health exchange has signed up about 140,000 people for private health insurance so far for 2015. That number is far below the lowest projection of 168,777 for all of 2015 and a high projection of 242,777 for the year. (Kerwin McCrimmon, 2/20)
The Associated Press:
Campaigns, Penalties Drive Health Insurance Signup
More prominent marketing campaigns, fear of potential tax penalties and an overall better understanding of the nation's health care law drove thousands of South Dakota residents to sign up for private health insurance during the second enrollment period that ended Sunday, health insurers said, resulting in a 60 percent increase in signups from last year. A federal report released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services this week shows that 21,183 South Dakotans selected a plan during the three-month enrollment season, that's about 8,000 more signups compared to last year. (Cano, 2/19)
The Tennessean:
Agencies Scrap Over Releasing Lawmaker Health Plan Info
Although a handful of lawmakers officially killed Gov. Bill Haslam's controversial health care plan earlier this month, the battles related to Insure Tennessee aren't over. Right now two state agencies are fighting over whether they must release details about the public health insurance benefits that go to most of Tennessee's 132 state lawmakers. (Boucher, 2/19)
