October 24, 2013
After speculation all Wednesday that the Obama Administration would delay the deadline to avoid a penalty under the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate, fueled by ongoing negative coverage of healthcare.gov and anonymous reports, it was confirmed that the date insurance must be purchased was pushed back. However, the Administration insists this is not an “individual mandate delay,” and maintains that the move is “unrelated” to troubles with the online marketplace.
Still, Brian Williams, at the opening of NBC Nightly News, reported that “after the debacle on the internet surrounding the roll-out of Obamacare, we have learned tonight that because of the staggering computer problems…the Administration now intends to slide the deadline for the so-called individual mandate for healthcare coverage.” NBC’s Tom Costello reported that the White House “plans to move the penalty deadline for individuals to be required to buy health insurance by as much as six weeks.”
Late Wednesday night, the Washington Post (10/24, Somashekhar, Goldstein, Eilperin, 4.28M) reports, the Obama Administration confirmed that “it will give Americans who buy health insurance through new online marketplaces an extra six weeks to obtain coverage before they risk a penalty.” The revised guidelines means that “those who buy coverage through the exchange will have until March 31 to sign up for a plan.” HHS officials insist that this change is “unrelated” to troubles with the Federal marketplace website, healthcare.gov, and is instead related to “a ‘disconnect’ among dates in new rules for buying coverage.”
In a 1,300-word, front-page story, the Wall Street Journal (10/24, A1, Hughes, Nelson, Subscription Publication, 5.91M) reports that news the Obama Administration plans to extend the open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act, coupled with a handful of Democratic lawmakers calling for a delay to the law’s individual mandate, demonstrates there is a clear unease growing around the law.
Lawmakers rally behind individual mandate delay. In related news, more lawmakers are calling on the Obama Administration to delay the individual mandate, or at least extend open enrollment, under the Affordable Care Act. USA Today (10/24, Camia, 5.82M) reports that on Wednesday, a second Democratic senator backed the idea floated by Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire on Tuesday. Senator Joe Manchin, a vulnerable West Virginia Democrats, wrote, “I believe, given the technical issues, it makes sense to extend the time for people to sign up. In addition, the administration should state clearly how the enforcement mechanism will work if people can’t sign up in time.”
(Article courtesy of the American Medical Association.)
