Trump HHS Refuses To Extend Obamacare Enrollment Deadline

FILE - In this May 18, 2017 file photo, the Healthcare.gov website is seen on a laptop computer, in Washington. Former Obama administration officials say they're launching a private campaign to encourage people to si... FILE - In this May 18, 2017 file photo, the Healthcare.gov website is seen on a laptop computer, in Washington. Former Obama administration officials say they're launching a private campaign to encourage people to sign up for coverage next year under the Affordable Care Act. With the start of open enrollment just weeks away on Nov. 1, the Trump administration has slashed "Obamacare's" ad budget, as well as grants to outside organizations that are supposed to help consumers sign up. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

The Trump administration has refused to extend the Obamacare signup period, which ended on Friday at midnight.

Health care advocacy groups had expressed concerns about an expected surge of last-minute signups that would potentially crash the website right before the deadline, preventing millions from meeting it and thus going into 2018 without insurance.

Congressional Democrats sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) on Wednesday urging the department to offer a grace period as a safety net.

The administration hadn’t previously indicated whether or not it was going to offer that grace period. Then on Friday night, the official government Health Insurance Marketplace tweeted that there would be no extension.

President Donald Trump and his administration have done everything in their power to sabotage Obamacare, from ending insurance company subsidies to drastically shrinking the budget for enrollment outreach.

Despite these efforts, signup rates were surprisingly high in the beginning of the initial enrollment period, even exceeding those of previous years. However, experts still predict the total number of enrollments will drop below last year’s.

H/t the Hill.

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for marby marby says:

    The sick, disgusting bastards. No one with any kind of human empathy could begrudge another person a chance to get healthcare for himself or his family.

  2. Avatar for paulw paulw says:

    The Death Party.

    But watch both republican operatives and Very Serious People find some reason to blame the democrats.

  3. Avatar for theod theod says:

    I wonder if the Dilatory Deplorables are paying attention?

  4. How many Americans will be killed because of the GOP’s continued sabotage of ACA?

  5. Avatar for jinnj jinnj says:

    GOP answer: “Not enough!! Ha Ha Ha … Ho, Ho now let’s take the yacht around the harbor one more time”

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

22 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for cabchi Avatar for paulw Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for marby Avatar for old_curmudgeon Avatar for blandsten Avatar for bojimbo26 Avatar for theod Avatar for jkrogman Avatar for harry_r_sohl Avatar for theghostofeustacetilley Avatar for ottnott Avatar for nerdnam Avatar for dddinah Avatar for benthere Avatar for pshah Avatar for tena Avatar for joeschmo2014 Avatar for jinnj Avatar for professorpoopypants Avatar for rickjones Avatar for susanintheoc Avatar for uneducated

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: