HealthCare.gov: Surge expected on enrollment deadline

FILE - This Nov. 12, 2014 file photo shows the HealthCare.gov website, where people can buy health insurance, on a laptop screen, shown in Portland, Ore.(Photo: AP Photo/Don Ryan)

Cover Oregon is expecting a big uptick in health insurance enrollments at HealthCare.gov on Monday, the deadline to sign up for individual private insurance that would kick in Jan. 1.

While open enrollment will continue through Feb. 15, people might experience coverage gaps if they miss Monday's deadline.

In the first two weeks of open enrollment, just 7,185 people had signed up. One week later, that figure jumped to 26,933. Cover Oregon spokeswoman Amy Fauver said she expects an even bigger surge this week.

"Huge amounts of people come in at the last minute," Fauver said. "It's just human nature."

It's worth emphasizing that because Oregon switched from its own system, Cover Oregon, to HealthCare.gov, everyone who is currently enrolled under Cover Oregon will not have automatic renewals. They have to re-enroll from scratch at HealthCare.gov.

So far, the technology is working well, Fauver said, though people have reported long wait times at the federal call center. The website also has a waiting room function that can be deployed if it is hitting the maximum number of users it can support. So far, it hasn't been used yet, Fauver said.

Oregonians have until 11:59 p.m. local time to sign up.

Those who miss Monday's deadline can sign up by Jan. 15 for coverage starting Feb. 1, and the final deadline is Feb. 15, for coverage beginning in March. Those who don't act would have to wait until next fall's open enrollment period, unless they experience a qualifying life change that would allow them to enroll mid-year.

Cover Oregon's projections for 2015 enrollees are 76,000 to 114,000.

syoo@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6673 or follow at Twitter.com/syoo.

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Source: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/health/2014/12/15/healthcaregov-surge-expected-enrollment-deadline/20452175/