Time To Sign Up For Or Renew 'Obamacare' Health Plan

ST. LOUIS, MO — After multiple failures by Republicans in Congress and the White House to repeal the Affordable Care Act, former-President Obama's health care law remains the law of the land. Open enrollment begins today, Nov. 1, despite actions taken by the Trump administration to undermine the law. Missourians who need to sign up for or renew their coverage can pick a plan on the federal exchange at Healthcare.gov. Open enrollment ends Dec. 15.

President Obama shared a video on Twitter today saying that Healthcare.gov is open for business. He encouraged anyone who needs health care to sign up, and others to shop around on the federal health care exchange to possibly save money.

"It only takes a few minutes," he said. "And the vast majority of people qualify for financial assistance. Eight in 10 people can find plans for $75 a month or less."

Starting today, you can sign up for 2018 health coverage. Head on over to https://t.co/ob1Ynoesod and find a plan that meets your needs. https://t.co/6vYt83w74T
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 1, 2017

University City Mayor Shelley Welsch shared the information with her followers on Facebook. "Please share far and wide — since the Trump administration has cut funding for advertising to remind people of the Affordable Care Act enrollment period," she said.

The federal health care law prevents people being turned down for pre-existing conditions and ensures women have access to benefits that cover contraception, pregnancy, breast cancer screenings, and other preventative services. Before Obamacare was passed into law, health insurance plans didn't routinely provide those benefits, and women, on average, paid more than men for the same coverage, according to the National Women's Law Center.

The Trump administration has cut this year's enrollment period in half, and announced that the site will be down for maintenance on most Sundays through December.

The St. Louis-Post Dispatch reports that health care premiums will continue to rise. For the minority of Americans who don't qualify for financial assistance, the average increase will be around 37 percent for a mid-tier "silver" plan, three points higher than the national average. Though, most Missourians will be protected from the cost increases, and some will even see prices drop.

At the same time, plans available to Missouri residents through the exchange will become more limited, with exclusive provider plans the only ones available. EPO plans provide coverage only within a limited network of providers, with patients paying out-of-pocket if they choose to look beyond their network for treatment.

Most of the state, especially rural areas, will have access to only one carrier, while St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson counties will be able to choose between two.

Experts say when signing up, be very careful to select a plan that includes your doctor. If unsure, call your provider to verify they will accept your insurance.

Consulting firm Avalere Health released a study last week blaming some of the price increases and limited choices on actions taken by the Trump administration to destabilize the market, such as ending cost-sharing subsidies paid to insurance companies to help cover low-income Americans. Those companies are still required to cover low-income Americans, but must recoup the cost elsewhere. Hence, higher premiums.

President Trump has said on several occasions his plan is to let Obamacare fail.

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