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WILKES-BARRE — Gov. Tom Wolf and Acting Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman are concerned the shortened enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act and reduced consumer outreach will have a negative impact on Pennsylvanians trying to sign up for coverage.

Ronald G. Ruman, director of communications at the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, said the open enrollment period this year has been shortened by the Trump Administration from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15 — a reduction of about seven weeks from what it’s been in previous years.

Ruman said the Trump Administration is also drastically cutting the advertising budget for ACA, commonly known as Obamacare. He said the Insurance Department will be conducting a limited media campaign which will be announced next month.

“But we do not have nearly the resources the federal government has to reach consumers,” Ruman said.

Ruman said the news is “particularly unfortunate” since the U.S. Census Bureau announced last week that Pennsylvania’s uninsured rate is down to 5.6 percent, the lowest on record, and down from 10.2 percent prior to the enactment of ACA.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, said this is another example of congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration sabotaging the nation’s health care system.

“Northeastern Pennsylvanians will see increased premiums and higher costs because of this sabotage,” Casey said. “Instead of undermining our health care system, the Administration should be working in a bipartisan way to make it work better.”

According to information provided by U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey’s office, taken from the website HealthCare.gov:

• The Open Enrollment Period is the yearly period when people can enroll in a health insurance plan. The 2017 Open Enrollment started Nov. 1, 2016, and ended Jan. 31, 2017; the 2018 Open Enrollment runs from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15

• Outside the Open Enrollment Period, you generally can enroll in a health insurance plan only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. You’re eligible if you have certain life events, like getting married, having a baby, or losing other health coverage.

• Job-based plans may have different Open Enrollment Periods. Check with your employer.

• You can apply and enroll in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) any time of year.

‘Most offensive yet’

Casey said this week that after Senate Republicans’ first attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act failed by one vote in July, a new but similar proposal is being rushed through the Senate in hopes to pass it by Sept. 30.

Casey hosted a conference call Tuesday to discuss the staggering effects the new GOP bill — co-sponsored by Senators Bill Cassidy and Lindsay Graham — would have on Pennsylvania’s insured, including the most vulnerable communities of children, seniors, and people living with disabilities.

“This latest scheme is the most offensive yet,” Casey said. “These data show that every county in Pennsylvania could see costs rise if this bill becomes law. Many communities across the commonwealth could see premium increases over $1,000 per year.”

In addition to rising premiums, Casey said a report by The Century Foundation found the Cassidy-Graham bill was among the worst proposals in increasing the number of uninsured Americans, reducing patient protections, and shifting costs to states.

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Moosic, said Congress should come together to reduce the costs of coverage and prescription drugs.

“The Cassidy-Graham plan in the Senate would cut critical health protections and limit Medicaid funding,” Cartwright said. “I support improving the ACA and keeping rural and community hospitals in business.”

Casey said the Graham-Cassidy bill, includes:

• Converting Medicaid into a per capita or block grant, depending on the population, virtually ending the program.

• Eliminating protections for those with pre-existing conditions, and allowing insurance companies to charge higher premiums for conditions ranging from cancer and asthma to addiction and pregnancy.

• Cutting tax credits and cost-sharing reductions implemented to assist working middle class families secure affordable and adequate health coverage.

Wolf
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Cartwright
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Casey
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By Bill O’Boyle

[email protected]

Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.