More than 1 million of Obamacare’s 8 million enrollees could be receiving either too big or too small of a subsidy under the law, the Washington Post reported on Friday, and the government doesn’t yet have the capability to make corrections.
Government officials are aware that some Obamacare applicants listed an income that doesn’t match what’s on file with the IRS, but the computer system that would verify proof of income hasn’t been built yet. And only a small portion of people have sent in additional evidence of income after being notified of some problem with their application.
The Post cited “internal documents and three people familiar with the situation” in its report.
Administration officials can’t quantify how many people are receiving overpayments and how many are being underpaid, according to the Post. The law stipulates that those who receive too large of a subsidy must make up the difference on their next tax return.
The Post reported that efforts to fix the situation would intensify this weekend, starting with officials doing the work by hand until the computer system is ready.
“We’re working every day to make sure individuals and families get the tax credits they deserve and that no one is receiving a tax credit they shouldn’t,” an administration spokesperson said.
