Health care sign-ups surge despite shorter enrollment period
WASHINGTON — Nearly 9 million Americans have signed up for health coverage in 2018 through the federal HealthCare.gov website, according to an initial report from the Trump administration of the six-week enrollment period that ended last week.
The tally, though incomplete, suggests that enrollment on the HealthCare.gov insurance marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act will nearly equal the 2017 total despite uncertainty in the markets, a shorter enrollment period and steps by the administration that appeared aimed at discouraging people from signing up.
With sign-ups continuing in all or parts of 17 states, including the nation’s largest, total enrollment may ultimately surpass the 2017 tally.
The enrollment period on HealthCare.gov was half as long this fall as in previous years, and the Trump administration slashed funds for advertising and outreach. The president also often publicly referred to Obamacare as “dead” or “over.”
“Obamacare is finished. It’s dead. It’s gone,” Trump declared on the eve of the open enrollment period, which began Nov. 1.
In 2017, more than 12 million people signed up for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans, including about 9.2 million through HealthCare.gov.
Through last Friday, more than 8.8 million people had signed up for 2018 coverage through HealthCare.gov, according to the administration.
That includes nearly 2.4 million new customers and 6.4 million returning enrollees, many of whom were automatically re-enrolled.
“It’s incredible how many people signed up for coverage this year with record-setting demand for affordable health coverage,” said Lori Lodes, a spokeswoman for Protect Our Care, an advocacy group that stepped in to publicize the marketplaces when the Trump administration slashed outreach efforts.
“The demand for affordable coverage speaks volumes — proving, yet again, the staying power of the marketplaces,” Lodes said.