House Democrats have asked the Trump administration to extend the open enrollment period during which people can sign up for Obamacare and Medicare health plans to account for customers who will be recovering from hurricane damage.
Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria have hit U.S. states and territories in recent weeks, demolishing homes and causing medical facilities to be evacuated. The Department of Health and Human Services has several tools at its disposal to allow people in these areas to access healthcare services more quickly.
“We ask that you use your authority to provide additional leeway for enrollment-related choices,” wrote Democrats from the House Energy and Commerce Committee in a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price. “Many residents are focused on securing their houses, taking care of elderly neighbors, rebuilding amid flood damage and ensuring access to food, water and necessary treatment and medication. During this period of response and recovery, HHS should allow residents of affected states and territories additional leeway for both of the upcoming enrollment seasons.”
The Trump administration shortened the sign-up period for Obamacare’s open enrollment, which begins on Nov. 1, from three months to six weeks. The timeline now aligns with Medicare’s, but the House committee is asking that both deadlines extend into January. Democrats have blasted the tightened timeframe as an attempt to “sabotage” Obamacare.
The Obama administration extended deadlines several times during the first open enrollment for Obamacare as customers faced website glitches on healthcare.gov, the federal exchange, that prohibited them from signing up for coverage.
Some states that operate their own exchanges, including California, Colorado, Minnesota, New York, Washington, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia, have extended their open enrollment periods past the deadline set by the administration.
