Trump Administration Won't Reopen Obamacare Enrollment During Pandemic - Do You Support the Move?

What's the story?

• President Donald Trump has rejected calls to reopen Affordable Care Act enrollment - also known as Obamacare - during the coronavirus pandemic.

• Eleven states and Washington, D.C., have reopened their marketplaces to allow people to obtain new insurance coverage. 
• Politico first reported the story, writing on Tuesday that a White House official said "the administration will not reopen the site for a special enrollment period, and that the administration is 'exploring other options.'"
• Those who have recently lost their jobs have the option to extend their employer-based plans through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, also known as COBRA. This option, however, frequently proves to be cost-prohibitive for those who've lost their main source of income.
• Under current law, people who lose job-based insurance are also eligible to enroll for health insurance in marketplaces (after providing proof they lost their coverage).
• Calls to reopen the Obamacare enrollment period have been bipartisan. Last week, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, wrote an open letter to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, saying:

 “At this time when health insurance is of critical importance and so many people are experiencing a loss of employment, opening a special enrollment period will cut unnecessary red tape and lift a paperwork burden off individuals who are already facing challenges from a sudden and significant change in circumstances.”

For a politics-free guide to how to protect you and your loved ones from corona, click on over to our Coronavirus Info Center.

What do you think?

Should the Trump administration consider re-opening the ACA marketplaces? What "other options" would you like them to consider? Take action above, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman