Feds, some states extend open enrollment for two days amid record demand
Federal officials late Tuesday extended the deadline for consumers to sign up for health insurance on the federal Healthcare.gov site until 11:59 PM Dec. 17 due to "unprecedented demand."
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 and Medicaid Services granted similar extensions during the last two open enrollments.
"Hundreds of thousands have already selected plans over the last two days and approximately 1 million consumers have left their contact information to hold their place in line," Healthcare.gov CEO Kevin Counihan said in an emailed statement. "Our goal is to provide access to affordable coverage, and the additional 48 hours will give consumers an opportunity to come back and complete their enrollment for January 1 coverage."
The federal site was overwhelmed at times and reports of wait times for the call center varied from the two minutes CMS said some people had to wait on hold to an hour or more that insurance brokers including Health Agents for America CEO Ronnell Nolan said they were experiencing.
The 1 million callers Healthcare.gov's call centers had Monday were the most ever handled, leading to this being the busiest period the site has experienced over the now-three open enrollment periods.
Other states, including New York and Minnesota, also announced extensions.