Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Health Law Enrollment Edges Up With One Month Until Deadline
The Associated Press: Health Overhaul Sign-Ups Edge Higher
With a month to go in the 2015 open enrollment season, the Obama administration says sign-ups under the president's health care law are edging higher. The Health and Human Services Department says at least 163,000 people signed up last week for subsidized private health insurance. (1/14)
McClatchy: With A Month To Go, Health Care Enrollment Efforts Heating Up
With only a month left to sign up for online-marketplace health insurance this year, the Obama administration and support groups are ramping up their outreach efforts as the Feb. 15 deadline nears. (Pugh, 1/14)
Politico Pro: Getting Latinos Covered: Advocates Talk Effort, Not Results
Obamacare enrollment groups are working to “double down” on tactics to get Latinos covered, but they’re not saying whether their effort is yielding the same degree of results. (Wheaton, 1/14)
The Associated Press: 290,000 In Michigan Sign Up For Health Insurance Marketplace
The federal government says more than 290,000 Michiganians have signed up for the Affordable Care Act's Health Insurance Marketplace, one day ahead of Thursday's enrollment deadline. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday that 290,439 people had signed up by Friday. Thursday is the deadline for people to get insurance starting Feb. 1. (1/14)
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Thursday's The Deadline To Get Health Coverage In Feb.
Consumers have through Thursday to enroll in a health plan on HealthCare.gov in order for their coverage to take effect on Feb. 1. Missouri and Illinois residents will still have one month to enroll in 2015 coverage after Thursday's deadline, but it won't start until March if they wait. The online marketplace has been emailing reminders to consumers with accounts ahead of the deadline. (Shapiro, 1/14)
Georgia Health News: Georgia Exchange Enrollment Nears 400,000
Almost 400,000 Georgians are signed up for coverage in the 2015 health insurance exchange, federal officials announced Wednesday. The Georgia signup total as of Jan. 9 greatly exceeds the state’s 316,543 enrollees during the first open enrollment last year. The enrollment period this year ends Feb. 15. (Miller, 1/14)
Dallas Morning News: More Texans Signing Up For Insurance Under Affordable Care Act
A growing number of Texans are selecting insurance plans under the federal Affordable Care Act, according to federal officials Wednesday. (Jacobson, 1/14)
Meanwhile, Colorado and Minnesota officials question how their exchanges function -
The Associated Press: Colorado Health Exchange Faces Questions
Colorado's state-run health insurance exchange is going before state lawmakers to answer questions about mismanagement allegations in a recent state audit. Connect For Health was scheduled to brief lawmakers Thursday afternoon. The presentation gives lawmakers their first chance to grill the exchange managers since a report last month criticized some management decisions at the exchange. (1/15)
Minneapolis Star-Tribune: MNsure Board Would Be Eliminated Under DFL Proposal
Senate DFLers have introduced a bill that would eliminate the MNsure board, and create a new state department to manage Minnesota’s health insurance exchange. Coupled with MNsure legislation last week from leaders of the new Republican majority in the House, the bill from top Senate Democrats helps establish the terms of debate over reforming the health exchange during this year’s legislative session. (Snowbeck, 1/14)
