Federal health exchange opens for enrollment
The second sign-up season under President Barack Obama’s health overhaul opened Saturday, with hopes that this time consumers will have a positive experience.
But the fear is that entrenched political opposition and renewed legal challenges may yet collapse the program that’s bringing health care to millions of previously uninsured Americans. The administration can’t afford another technology meltdown.
With 7 million paying customers in new insurance markets, the Affordable Care Act has shown it is helping to reduce the number of uninsured. Insurers, not known for altruism, have stuck with the fledgling program despite ongoing technical headaches with the HealthCare.gov website. More companies are participating for 2015, a sign they see a business opportunity.
Obama urged consumers, whether they currently buy coverage through the insurance markets or still need to sign up for a plan, to go to the health care website and review their options. He said they could end up saving money or finding a better plan, and urged them to act fast since the enrollment period closes Feb. 15.
“This window won’t stay open forever. You only have three months to shop for plans, so it’s worth starting right away. And it might make a big difference for your family’s bottom line,” Obama said Saturday in his weekly radio and Internet address, which the White House released as the president visited Brisbane, Australia.
The administration said late Friday that some HealthCare. gov functions would be turned off for several hours in the transition to the start of sign-up season. The website appeared to be functioning Saturday.
“Obamacare” is still struggling to win hearts and minds. The latest Associated Press-GfK poll finds that, if forced to choose between repealing the law and implementing it as written, 56 percent of Americans would repeal it completely. Only 41 percent would carry it out.
However, most don’t see the law going away. Sixty-one percent said they expect it to be implemented in its current form, or something near that.
Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell, a management expert assigned to save what’s been a problem child of social programs, says she’s confident the sign-up season will be successful, even if it’s only half as long as last year’s: three months, through Feb. 15.
Will the law remain on the books after Republicans gain full control of Congress in January?
“The idea of repeal ... is not something this administration will let happen,” said Burwell.
What about the legal challenge the Supreme Court has just agreed to hear, calling into question the law’s tax credits that make premiums affordable for millions?
“Nothing has changed,” Burwell said, adding that the tax credits “will be continuing.” At least for the time being. The Supreme Court isn’t likely to hear the case until the spring, after 2015 open enrollment is over.
Website outages are not out of the question this year, but a full-scale meltdown seems less likely. HealthCare.gov has been revamped to handle last season’s peak loads and beyond. The federal website will serve as the online portal for coverage in 37 states, while the remaining states run their own exchanges.