CHARLESTON, W.Va. — While the Trump administration has already decided not to reopen enrollment for health care insurance, more than two dozen U.S. senators are pushing for a change.
Twenty-eight Democrats — including West Virginia’s Joe Manchin — sent a letter Tuesday to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar asking for the White House to reconsider the idea in light of the coronavirus pandemic, in which a record number of people have already filed for unemployment.
“Opening up the ACA marketplace would provide an easy pathway to coverage for those who under previous circumstances may have decided to forego health insurance or purchase a substandard, junk insurance plan, but now in a global pandemic are in vital need of comprehensive coverage to protect themselves, their families, and our broader community,” the legislators said.
The letter states former President Barack Obama’s health care law allows special enrollment periods for people facing circumstances such as unemployment.
“It is inexcusable for you not to exercise that authority during perhaps the largest extenuating circumstance of our lifetimes, and to choose to lock out millions of Americans from the ACA exchanges because they failed to predict a sweeping global pandemic,” the senators said.
President Donald Trump said Friday the federal government would reimburse hospitals and health care providers for treating uninsured coronavirus patients. The funding comes from the economic legislation that Congress approved in March.
“This should alleviate any concern uninsured Americans may have about seeking the coronavirus treatment,” Trump added.
Azar noted the same day people already qualify for a special enrollment period within 60 days of losing coverage. Otherwise, people will have to wait until the open enrollment period starts Nov. 1 to purchase an insurance plan.
“They’re going to get first-dollar coverage, they’re going to get care in the United States, and the provider is going to be made whole from this program,” he said. “What President Trump is doing here with this money is an unprecedented, disease-specific support of care for individuals to make sure that people get treatment.”
The Trump administration’s position comes as it continues supporting a lawsuit aimed at nullifying “Obamacare.” Eighteen states, including West Virginia, argue the statute is unconstitutional because of Congress’ zeroing out of the individual mandate penalty as part of the 2017 tax law.
Around 160,000 West Virginians are enrolled in Medicaid due to the program’s expansion, and 20,000 people purchased a plan through the insurance marketplace in the recent enrollment period.
The U.S. Supreme Court will consider the legal challenge during the court’s next term, which begins in October.