Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
With One Day Left Before ACA Deadline, Experts Tout Benefits Of Signing Up
The Associated Press: Health Care Signup Deadline Approaches On Jan. 31
The future of the Affordable Care Act is unclear, stirring up financial and medical concerns for many consumers. It leaves some to wonder, What now? Experts say the best thing to do is to focus on the here and now — including the Jan. 31 deadline to sign up. (Skidmore Sell, 1/27)
The New York Times: Sign Up For Health Care Coverage? ‘Absolutely,’ Experts Say
The final deadline for enrolling in health insurance for 2017 under the Affordable Care Act is on Tuesday. But with so much turmoil and uncertainty surrounding the law’s future, should consumers bother to shop for coverage Yes, say policy experts and consumer advocates. Health plans — and subsidies to help low-income consumers pay for premiums — are in place for this year. Healthcare.gov and the state-based insurance marketplaces are open for business, for consumers who do not have job-based coverage and are seeking individual policies. (Carrns, 1/27)
And media outlets report on open enrollment in the states —
Nashville Tennessean: Three Surprises From Open Enrollment
The fourth open enrollment period for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act is wrapping up this week, and it has certainly been an eventful one. The Tennessee insurance market was reshaped as carriers pulled out of the exchanges and offered new products, and the election of Donald Trump as president has put the entire healthcare industry into a state of uncertainty. (Tolbert, 1/29)
KCUR: As Obamcare Enrollment Deadline Looms, People Frustrated By High Cost Of Plans
Tuesday is this year's open enrollment deadline for buying health coverage through the insurance marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act. According to local health insurance brokers, the Trump administration's push to repeal or replace the ACA, has not impacted the number of people calling to sign up for Obamacare health coverage. However, people are expressing anger about the cost of plans. (Wood, 1/30)
WBUR: As Enrollment Deadline Approaches, Missourians Sign Up For Coverage Under ACA
Open enrollment for health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act ends Tuesday. People across the country continue to sign up despite President Trump's calls to repeal and replace the health care law. (Burbank, 1/27)
Minnesota Public Radio: MN Officials Push Health Coverage Sign-Ups As Deadline Nears
State officials are making a final pitch for Minnesotans to sign up for health insurance before open enrollment is scheduled to close on Tuesday. They're banking on $312 million in funds from the state to entice people who've delayed in signing up for insurance plans because of the cost. Gov. Mark Dayton signed a bill this week that offers a 25 percent discount on health insurance premiums for plans purchased through MNsure or the individual market in 2017. (Collins, 1/27)
Pioneer Press: Minnesotans Get Extra Week To Purchase Health Insurance. New Deadline: Feb. 8
Prompting this special enrollment period was the Legislature’s Jan. 26 passage of 25 percent premium relief for around 120,000 Minnesotans who buy individual market insurance but earn too much to get federal subsidies. “Given how close enactment of the premium relief bill was to the deadline for open enrollment, we believe Minnesotans needed more time to benefit from this important opportunity to lower their monthly health insurance bill by 25 percent,” MNsure CEO Allison O’Toole said in a statement. State officials fear many Minnesotans had been putting off buying insurance because of the high costs, and hope the 25 percent discounts will change their minds and bring people back into the market. On Friday, the state launched an outreach program to tell Minnesotans about the discounts in the hopes of securing sign-ups by the old Jan. 31 deadline. (Montgomery, 1/28)
