Bruised And Battered Health Law’s Open Enrollment Period Starts Today Amid Much Confusion
The fifth open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act kicks off today. But many consumers don't even know if the health law is alive or not.
The New York Times:
As Open Enrollment For Obamacare Begins, Confusion Reigns
David Branch knew that his job, helping people sign up for Obamacare, would be harder this year. But Mr. Branch didn’t fully realize the scope of his challenge until a group that he approached with his fliers insisted that the Affordable Care Act had been repealed. “They said: ‘Why are you guys here? Obamacare is done,’ ” Mr. Branch recalled Friday as he finished a training session here. (Goodnough and Pear, 10/31)
USA Today:
Insurers, Ex-Obama Officials Promote Wednesday Insurance Enrollment
Insurers, some states and former Obama administration officials are heavily promoting the Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment that starts Wednesday to make up for the lack of marketing the law is getting by President Trump's administration. "We are as an industry doing everything we can," says Kelly Turek, an executive director with trade group America's Health Insurance Plans. (O'Donnell, 10/31)
Bloomberg:
Obamacare's Rising Premiums Will Hurt The Middle Class The Most
For some lower-income people in Obamacare, the rising premiums President Donald Trump has talked so much about will barely be felt at all. Others, particularly those with higher incomes, will feel the sharp increases when insurance sign-ups begin Wednesday. Richard Taylor is one of the people on the wrong end. The 61-year-old, self-employed Oklahoman has meticulously tracked his medical costs since 1994. In 2013, he signed up for an Affordable Care Act plan for the law’s first year offering coverage to millions of Americans. (Rausch and Tracer, 11/1)
The Associated Press:
Trump Ad Incorrectly Blames Dem For GOP Health Care Struggle
President Donald Trump is lashing out at Democrats in a new TV ad that incorrectly blames his critics in the opposing party for blocking fixes to the nation's health care system. The new ad, set to begin airing on cable stations nationwide on Tuesday, seizes on "skyrocketing" insurance premiums "all while Democrats in Washington, D.C., block a better plan to repeal and replace Obamacare once and for all — obstructing our president just to score political points with the radical left." (Peoples, 10/31)