Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Enrollment Deadline Pushed Back Due To 'Unprecedented' Demand
Kevin Counihan, CEO of HealthCare.gov, made the announcement Tuesday night, citing "unprecedented" consumer demand. (12/15)
The additional two days from the previous Dec. 15 deadline will allow consumers in the 38 states that use Healthcare.gov to sign up for plans that take effect Jan. 1. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services granted similar extensions during the last two open enrollments. (O'Donnell, 12/15)
Federal officials say the previous few days have been the busiest ever at the Obamacare website, with hundreds of thousands selecting health plans. But it's too early to say if the sign-up surge indicates that the administration will meet its modest enrollment goals for 2016. (Pradhan, 12/15)
Covered California officials announced that due to a surge in demand for health insurance through the state marketplace, it has extended the enrollment deadline by two days for coverage that begins Jan. 1. Officials said the Covered California Service Center will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. (Locke, 12/15)
Kaiser Health News staff writer Julie Rovner joins Here & Now鈥檚 Jeremy Hobson to explain the enrollment deadline, what the penalty is for not having health insurance in 2016 and also answers other questions about coverage. (Rovner, 12/15)
Tuesday was a big deadline for signing up for health insurance coverage. But one of the key sign-up locations wasn鈥檛 bustling when Bhargav Patel stopped by in the morning to make sure his son would be able to keep his insurance. (Levin Becker, 12/15)
