ObamaCare Deadline Not Exactly March 31 Anymore

Loophole opened, relies on honor system
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 26, 2014 5:00 AM CDT
Updated Mar 26, 2014 7:40 AM CDT
Extra Time Granted for ObamaCare Enrollment
Part of the website for HealthCare.gov.   (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)

With the deadline for enrollment just days away, the Obama administration has decided the cutoff date for ObamaCare isn't as quite as firm as earlier advertised. The administration says people who have had trouble signing up for coverage on HealthCare.gov before the March 31 deadline will have until around the middle of April to ask for an extension, reports the Washington Post, which notes that the system will rely on the honor system and users will only have to tick a box to be granted an extension.

"We are experiencing a surge in demand and are making sure that we will be ready to help consumers who may be in line by the deadline to complete enrollment—either online or over the phone," says a Health and Human Services spokeswoman. Consumer advocates welcomed the move to grant extra time, though the insurance industry and Republicans aren't so happy about it, the Los Angeles Times notes. "Another day, another ObamaCare delay," said RNC Chairman Reince Preibus. (More ObamaCare stories.)

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