Health Law’s Open Enrollment To Kick Off This Week Amid Confusion, Cries Of Sabotage
Experts expect enrollment to drop significantly in part because of the Trump administration's moves to slash funding for marketing and navigators, and to roll back policies meant to protect consumers.
The Associated Press:
Health Law Sign-Ups Start, And Some See A 'Hostile Takeover'
It's sign-up season for the Affordable Care Act, but the Trump administration isn't making it easy — cutting the enrollment period in half, slashing advertising and dialing back on counselors who help consumers get through the process. Many people already faced fewer choices and higher premiums. But President Donald Trump's decision to cancel a subsidy to insurers that lowers consumer costs compounded the turmoil, pushing premiums even higher. (Alonso-Zaldivar, 10/30)
Politico:
Confusion Clouds Open Enrollment With Republicans Still Eager To Dismantle Obamacare
Obamacare is about to have its worst open-enrollment season ever — and that’s no accident. President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress still aim to dismantle the 2010 law. Making it look bad helps their cause, even as they’ve failed repeatedly to repeal or replace Obamacare. The new theory for Republicans: If fewer people enroll in Obamacare, there will be less of a constituency to save it. (Demko, Pradhan and Cancryn, 10/29)
The Hill:
ObamaCare Heads Into Crucial First Sign-Ups Under Trump
ObamaCare made it through nearly 10 months of repeal attempts with Republicans in full control of Washington. It now faces another crucial period starting Wednesday. It’s the first test of how the Trump administration will handle enrollment under the law it claims is “imploding.” With the president making no secret of his desire to kill the law completely, Democrats accuse the administration of "sabotage" and say the number of new enrollees is likely to drop as a result. (Sullivan, 10/29)
NPR:
Less Money, Less Time To Enroll In 2018 Health Plans Poses Challenges
Starting next week, Americans will again be able to shop for health plans on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. Open enrollment in most states runs from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15. But a lot of people don't know that because the Trump administration slashed the marketing budget for Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. So states, municipalities, community groups, insurers and others are strengthening their outreach efforts. In Texas, some cities and local governments are doing their best to get the word out, but it will be hard to reach the more rural communities. (Lopez and Dembosky, 10/28)
Kaiser Health News:
Money For Health Law Navigators Slashed — Except Where It’s Not
Despite all the efforts in Congress to repeal the health law this summer and fall, the Affordable Care Act is still the law of the land. People can start signing up for health insurance for 2018 starting Nov. 1. But the landscape for that law has changed a lot. Take navigators. Those are specially trained people who help consumers sign up for coverage. The federal government cut navigator funding by 41 percent. But that’s not an across-the-board cut. Some groups and states are dealing with far deeper cuts, while others will have dollars close to what they had last year. (Olgin, 10/30)
In open enrollment news from the states —
The Oregonian:
Insurance Guide 2018: Oregonians Face Fewer Choices, Higher Premiums
Open enrollment begins Nov. 1, the annual period when individual health insurance buyers can switch plans. Many will want to consider their options carefully -- and swiftly -- experts say. Instead of having until Jan. 31 to decide, consumers this year have six weeks ending Dec. 15, and actually less time than that. The online federal insurance exchange, where most Oregonians buy plans and receive financial help, will be shut down for 12 hours on five of those six Sundays. (Hunsberger, 10/29)
Detroit Free Press:
Obamacare Enrollment Goes Live In Michigan Nov. 1 With 27% Rate Hikes
Yet the most consequential change could be the higher sticker price for health insurance policies: The average price in Michigan of an individual plan will jump a record 26.9% for 2018. That compares to an average 16.7% increase from 2016 to 2017, and 6.5% from 2015 to 2016. Roughly 300,000 Michiganders are expected to get enrolled in a plan during open enrollment, down from previous years and about 3% of the total population. (Reindl, 10/27)
The CT Mirror:
CT Businesses, Employees Face Hikes In Health Care Premiums
When the Affordable Care Act open enrollment period for health insurance begins on Wednesday, many individuals who buy their own policies will suffer sticker shock because of a sharp increase in premiums. But the state’s large and small businesses are girding for higher premiums to cover their workers in 2018 too. (Radelat, 10/30)
Boston Globe:
If You’re Shopping For Health Care, Don’t Wait Around
On Nov. 1, the ACA’s annual open enrollment period will begin, just like every other year. But this time the Trump administration has made several changes to the program that make things a little different. The administration cut the advertising budget for the program, as well as the budget for “navigators” — people who help guide insurance shoppers through the enrollment process. (Shemkus, 10/27)
Tampa Bay Times:
Obamacare Fact Vs. Fiction: What You Need To Know Before Open Enrollment
Consumers are struggling to separate fact from fiction as the open enrollment period approaches for health insurance plans sold on the Affordable Care Act's federal exchange, advocates and insurance companies say. The controversial health care law lives on, even as the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress look for ways to kill it. (Griffin, 10/30)
Miami Herald:
Obamacare Open Enrollment In Florida Starts Nov. 1
With the fifth year of open enrollment for Affordable Care Act coverage due to begin Nov. 1, Florida insurers and consumer advocates have six weeks to reach Scherr and others like her who may be more discouraged and confused than ever about the health law commonly known as Obamacare. There are challenges including rising premiums, a shorter window to sign up, and confusion over the status of Obamacare. (Chang, 10/27)
Kaiser Health News:
Rural Areas — Already Short On Health Resources — Face Enrollment Hitches
Ms. Stella’s, a home-cooking restaurant in Milledgeville, Ga., serves roast beef, grilled pork chops, chicken wings and oxtails with 24 sides from which to choose. Last spring, owners Jeri and Lucious Trawick opened a second restaurant in Eatonton, about 20 miles away, and Jeri decided to leave her full-time job to help shepherd the expansion. But she needed to update the couple’s health insurance and went shopping on the Affordable Care Act’s online marketplace. Trawick, 43, who considers herself nearly as skilled with a computer as she is with a skillet, found the Obamacare website daunting. (Anderson, 10/27)
Kaiser Health News:
Big Gains In Latino Coverage Poised To Slip During Chaotic Enrollment Season
Latinos, who just a year ago were highly sought customers for the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace plans may not get the same hard sell this year. The Trump administration’s laissez-faire approach toward the upcoming enrollment period for the health law’s insurance marketplaces could reverse advances made in the number of Latinos with coverage, fear navigators and community activists. (Andalo, 10/30)
Cleveland Plain Dealer:
Buying Obamacare Coverage? If You Don't Get Subsidies, This Could Cushion You Against Big Hikes
Obamacare math is getting more complicated, but a way to save substantial money in 2018 is now apparent, especially for Ohioans who earn too much money to qualify for subsidies. Buy through an insurance broker or agent, or call the insurer directly. (Koff, 10/27)
