The Theme For Open Enrollment This Year? Rampant Confusion
Open enrollment for 2018 health coverage under the Affordable Care Act starts on Wednesday. But consumers across the country have been left scratching their heads -- if they know they even still need coverage at all.
The Washington Post:
Fifth Year’s ACA Enrollment Season Opening With Daunting Obstacles
In Indianapolis, the director of the state’s largest organization helping people find Affordable Care Act insurance had to lay off nine of 13 staff members last month because the federal government had just taken away more than 80 percent of the grant that paid for their work. In Atlanta, festivalgoers at the annual Pride weekend in mid-October were mystified that members of Insure Georgia had a table set up, because they thought President Trump had gotten rid of the health-care law. (Goldstein and Eilperin, 10/30)
Los Angeles Times:
Obamacare Insurance Markets Open This Week Amid Confusion And Uncertainty
Health insurance marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act begin accepting 2018 applications Wednesday amid mounting concern that the Trump administration’s repeated attacks on the law will dramatically depress enrollment. The marketplaces -- a centerpiece of the law commonly called Obamacare -- continue to provide coverage for some 10 million people. And they remain the only option for many low- and moderate-income Americans who don’t get health benefits through an employer or a government program such as Medicare or Medicaid. (Levey, 10/31)
Modern Healthcare:
Marketplace Mayhem
Consumers interested in buying insurance coverage on the Affordable Care Act exchanges are confused, unprepared and misinformed. That’s according to designated navigators who help people sign up for coverage on the ACA’s insurance marketplace. They have their work cut out for them this year. Many consumers don’t know that open enrollment kicks off Nov. 1. Some aren’t even aware the exchanges exist any longer, having been inundated with messages from lawmakers that the marketplace is imploding. (Livingston, 10/30)
Kaiser Health News:
5 Things To Know About ACA At Year 5
Open enrollment for people who buy their own health insurance starts Wednesday and ends Dec. 15 this year. That’s 45 days, six weeks shorter than last year — and only one of the big changes consumers need to consider. The Trump administration has cut back on marketing and funding for navigators to help people through the process. Here are five important factors to keep in mind if you plan to sign up for 2018 coverage under the Affordable Care Act. (Rovner and Appleby, 10/31)
Marketplace:
With Obamacare Ad Dollars Slashed, Expect Lower Enrollment
Want to know what happens when you cut ad spending for Obamacare? Just ask Kentucky. When the Affordable Care Act health insurance exchanges first went online, Kentucky had a Democratic governor. But a year later, Kentucky elected a Republican governor, who quickly slashed the ad budget. (Marshall-Genzer, 10/30)
Meanwhile, a look at what's going on in the states —
Boston Globe:
A Health Connector Primer As Open-Enrollment Opens
Beginning Wednesday, Massachusetts residents will be able to start browsing 2018 coverage plans on the Massachusetts Health Connector, the state’s insurance exchange, which serves more than 253,000 residents. The open-enrollment period begins during a particularly tumultuous time. (Dayal McCluskey, 10/30)
San Jose Mercury News:
Covered California Addresses 2018 Open Enrollment Confusion
The repeated, unsuccessful attempts by President Donald Trump and the Republican Congress to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act have taken a toll. Rattled by the uncertainty, Anthem Blue Cross and other insurers have backed out of many Obamacare insurance exchanges around the country. (Seipel, 10/30)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Rising Premiums, Consumer Confusion As Covered California Enters 5th Year
As Covered California enters its fifth year, the health insurance exchange is facing challenges both old and new, from rising health premiums to widespread confusion among consumers over how their health plans may change next year — all while the president proclaims that the health law that created the exchange is collapsing. (Ho, 10/30)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Begins Amid Turmoil
The annual open-enrollment period for health plans sold on marketplaces set up by the Affordable Care Act begins Wednesday, and for people who don't get their insurance through an employer, it promises to be chaotic. (Boulton, 10/30)
Texas Tribune:
Open Enrollment For Health Insurance Brings New Challenges In Texas
Open enrollment for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act begins Wednesday, and enrollees may see greater challenges this cycle following federal budget cuts. Two cuts in particular could have serious ramifications for Texans looking to register on the federal market. (Choi, 10/31)
The Philadelphia Inquirer/Philly.com:
The Five Most Important Things To Know About Obamacare Now
After so much talk of “repeal and replace,” even people who work in health care—like me—can feel confused about the Affordable Care Act, known to many as Obamacare. Fortunately, a few basic facts can help straighten things out. Are you one of about 400,000 Pennsylvanians who last year enrolled through healthcare.gov? Do you need to buy your own insurance this year? (Bussard, 10/30)
The Baltimore Sun:
Panel Shares Advice On Navigating Maryland's Health Exchange
Two days before people can begin signing up for health insurance through the state exchange, state and city health officials gathered in Baltimore Monday to offer advice for navigating the open enrollment season. Marylanders face a shorter enrollment period this year, which comes after multiple Republican-led efforts in Congress to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act — a central campaign promise of President Donald Trump. (Richman, 10/30)
Minnesota Public Radio:
MNsure Backers Say Being Local Works In Health Care Sign-Up
Starting Wednesday, people can begin buying non-group health insurance for next year. For people in most states this open enrollment period will be entirely different than in past years. But not in Minnesota. (Zdechlik, 10/30)
Kaiser Health News:
Past-Due Premiums, Missing Tax Forms May Hamstring Marketplace Customers
The 2018 annual open-enrollment period for coverage on the health insurance marketplaces starts Wednesday. But if you don’t take care of lingering issues from your past coverage, they may come back to haunt you when you try to sign up this fall. (Andrews, 10/31)
And why it's so hard to get people to buy coverage —
KQED:
Human Psychology Makes Health Insurance A Hard Sell – Especially For Latino Consumers
Latinos represent 38 percent of the marketplace’s potential customer base, but about 30 percent of people who actually enroll, so Covered California sees marketing to the demographic as a good return on investment for the whole exchange. But the Trump administration has made the already difficult task of selling a product people don’t want to think about, even harder. (Dembosky, 10/30)
