Wyden, Murray call on Trump administration to extend ACA open enrollment
U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Patty Murray of Washington are calling for an extended open enrollment period, which the Trump administration had cut in half this year.
The two ranking Democrats sent a letter to Eric Hargan, acting secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and Seema Verma, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, urging them to give people who buy their own insurance until Jan. 31 to purchase plans.
Open enrollment began Nov. 1 and is scheduled to end Dec. 15, this Friday. The decision to shorten the sign-up period makes it likely many consumers will miss the deadline and go without insurance next year, the senators argue. It also leaves consumers currently enrolled in plans little time to switch plans after being automatically enrolled, they said.
Wyden and Murray argue the Trump administration is undermining the health insurance market in a variety of ways. The administration also cut funding for marketing, consumer outreach and navigators, which help people sign up for plans.
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