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/

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Obama says HealthCare.gov works 'flawlessly'

President Obama says the federal Obamacare exchange works flawlessly and that returning customers should go shopping before the end of the day for a good deal on coverage that starts Jan. 1.

Its a good Christmas present for people who already have signed up for the Affordable Care Act to just take the time to go shopping. It wont take you long, and you may end up saving money, he told Ryan Seacrest in a taped phone interview that aired Monday.

Although customers have until Feb. 15 to sign up for health insurance under the law, Mr. Obama noted that Dec. 15 had been the long-standing deadline for Americans who use the federal HealthCare.gov portal to be covered in time for Jan. 1.

People who hold coverage and do nothing will be re-enrolled in what they have, but their premiums may rise because of year-to-year changes in plans or their government subsidy. Thats why Mr. Obama and his top health officials are encouraging customers to revisit the website.

Several state-run exchanges are giving their residents extra days to enroll and be covered by the new year, but most customers must act by midnight Pacific time, or 3 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday.

Mr. Obama acknowledged that last year did not go as planned, as website woes nearly derailed his signature achievement and people were wary of the new options.

Well first of all, the last time we spoke about this was a while back, and I think people were still uncertain about whether or not the Affordable Care Act was right for them, he told Mr. Seacrest in the interview, which had been taped Friday.

The Obamacare marketplace had 6.7 million going into this round of sign-ups, but HHS estimates it can to hit 9.1 million for 2015 by retaining customers and adding millions more.

Every survey shows that the vast majority are satisfied, Mr. Obama said.

The law continues to poll poorly overall, however, and Republicans will try to chip away at the law when they hold majorities in Congress come January.

Source: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/15/obama-says-healthcaregov-works-flawlessly/

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