California Extends Open Enrollment: ‘We Do Not Want To Leave Anyone Behind’
Customers will have to have started the process no later than Jan. 31, but they now have until Saturday to complete the paperwork.
Sacramento Bee:
Covered California Extends Jan. 31 Deadline For Health Insurance
Anticipating a last-minute surge in enrollments, Covered California extended its Jan. 31 sign-up deadline, saying it would help more Californians “cross the finish line” to health care coverage. “We expect a surge in large numbers in these last hours,” said Covered California spokesman Roy Kennedy, “and we want to be sure that everyone can get the coverage they need and the benefits they deserve. ”To qualify for the extended paperwork deadline, Californians must start the enrollment process by midnight on Jan. 31, but have until Saturday to finish the paperwork. (Buck, 1/31)
The San Diego Union-Tribune:
Covered CA Offers Four More Days To Finish Obamacare Enrollments
As it has every year since it started selling Obamacare policies in 2013, Covered California has added a little padding to its open enrollment deadline, announcing Tuesday that it will give an extra four days to complete applications to anyone who started the process by the end of the day. This maneuver has become common on the last day of January as the health exchange sees droves of applicants suddenly show interest in the plans it sells just as time runs out to pick a policy. In a statement, Peter Lee, Covered California’s director, said anyone who started the enrollment process by midnight Tuesday will have until Feb. 4 to finish. (Sisson, 1/31)
KPCC:
Covered California Extends Deadline Amid Uncertainty About Health Law
The deadline to enroll in Covered California is Tuesday night at midnight, but consumers who start the process now are being given four extra days to complete it. ... Consumers who finish their applications between Feb. 1 and Feb. 4 will have their coverage begin March 1, according to the exchange. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the Affordable Care Act, experts say people should sign up for health insurance — and people appear to be listening. (Plevin, 1/31)
KPBS:
Despite Possibility Of Repeal, People Continue To Sign Up For Insurance Through ACA
Despite plans by President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act, enrollment in health insurance under the act hasn't slowed down. More than 8.8 million Americans signed up for 2017 coverage through HealthCare.gov as of Jan. 14. That's slightly more than last year. And the number doesn't include people who signed up under state plans like Covered California. (Cavanaugh and Ruth, 1/31)
The Desert Sun:
Following Obamacare, Many More In Palm Springs Area Have Health Insurance
Since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, new research shows the amount of Coachella Valley adults lacking health insurance has plummeted by more than half. Roughly one in seven local adults said they lacked health insurance last year, compared to one in three in 2013, according to results released Tuesday by the Palm Desert nonprofit HARC Inc. as part of its triennial community health survey. The survey found 13.9 percent of locals between the ages of 18 and 64 did not have insurance, "a sharp and significant drop" from the 33.6 percent found in 2013 when HARC last conducted the survey, the agency said in its report on the results. (Newkirk, 1/31)