The Trump administration finalized a rule significantly restricting the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) open enrollment period and curbing the ability of state and federal marketplaces to promote health plan enrollment. The rule slashes the federal open enrollment period in half, from 45 days to six weeks, starting in 2018, ending on December 15th of each year instead of January 31st.
Furthermore, the rule reduces funding for the Navigator program, which provides in-person assistance to individuals seeking to enroll in ACA plans. The administration believes that reduced funding and marketing efforts will still allow for efficient enrollment, while critics argue this will lead to fewer enrollments, particularly among younger and healthier individuals.
The justification for these changes, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is to improve the efficiency of the marketplaces and reduce costs. They claim that the shorter enrollment period will encourage individuals to enroll earlier, reducing the burden on marketplace systems. However, opponents argue that these changes are designed to undermine the ACA by limiting access to coverage and weakening the individual mandate. The changes are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to dismantle the ACA, despite repeated failures to repeal and replace it through legislative means.
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