Civic Register
| 12.13.17

Obamacare Open Enrollment Ends Friday

Join us and tell your reps how you feel!

What’s the story?

Americans who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) marketplace have until Friday night to enroll for 2018 coverage.

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), about 4.7 million have already signed up for coverage.

Why does it matter?

The enrollments may not be enough to grow the program—which could be what the Trump administration was hoping for.

The administration halved this year’s open-enrollment period to 45 days, down from the 90 days consumers had in previous years. It also decreased advertising for the program, and discussed ending the mandate that Americans have health insurance. Amidst all this uncertainty, multiple health insurers increased their premiums.

And, two weeks before enrollment began, President Donald Trump announced that the government would stop reimbursing insurance companies for providing cost sharing reductions (CSR) to low-income individuals.

For all these reasons, experts are predicting that 2018 enrollment will be 20 percent lower than previous years.

President Trump has vowed to return to repealing and replacing Obamacare in the near future.

What do you think?

Is Obamacare a "disaster"? Are you not signing up for that reason? Or are you one of the 4.7 million who enrolled? Do you want Congress to try repealing and replacing again? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

Related Reading

(Photo credit: YinYang / iStockphoto)