It appears that the priorities of getting new customers as well as retaining current ones are about equal, however this year advocates have to work harder to target new enrollees. Continuing our conversation and based on this article, what do you project for 2015 and the ACA? What problems, if any, do you foresee for 2015?
http://online.wsj.com/articles/health-law-coverage-expansion-gets-tougher-1411944893
I think the ACA has some very good plans to try and keep old customers and enroll new ones. The idea of having a mobile truck and staff that will help with the enrollment process is extremely good as the process of finding the enrollment site and understanding the information is complex (especially in Idaho). I predict that these will be effective in increasing enrollment as it would reduce many of the frustrations of signing up.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I doubt that re-enrollment in the program will be as high as desired. I think many Americans may give up on the ACA if they worry that they will have to go through the hassle of getting insurance annually. Having to resubmit information will be a major deterrent to many consumers and the ACA will suffer as a result.
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ReplyDeleteI can’t imagine that there are many people left, who didn’t apply for the ACA the first time, that are eager to sign-up for it during this second enrollment period. According to the article, Enroll America is working harder to target new enrollees. But I think the problem is that the people who have yet to enroll for the ACA still lack an understanding of what it is. Quite frankly, I think they’re intimidated by it. With that quiz on Tuesday, we found out that a lot of well-educated college students are not fully aware of all the aspects to the Affordable Care Act. Now, imagine someone who needs to enroll for healthcare: low-income, working a job or two, and with a family. This person may not have the time nor the tools necessary to become informed about ObamaCare. Plus, with the news primarily depicting the negatives to the healthcare plan, I would be surprised if more people weren’t skeptical about the ACA like Terrie Barlow in the Wall Street Journal article.
ReplyDeleteUltimately, I think it is a great idea for Enroll America to get out more into communities to explain the ACA to people in-person. Although I don’t think it will get as many people as they want enrolled, I do think they will get more people enrolled had they not tried. As for problems with the ACA, I think the complexities to signing-up and updating information with HealthCare.gov will be a turnoff to many Americans.
http://online.wsj.com/articles/obamacares-wonderland-1412204941?KEYWORDS=obamacare
ReplyDeleteI think in the next few years, we will be seeing legal conflicts about Obamacare. The White House is trying to prevent this from happening, but federal courts cannot reach a similar verdict. There are disputes about subsidies to exchanges and tax credits in general.
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/10/01/obamacare-enrollment-and-low-expectations/?KEYWORDS=obamacare
In addition to these legal disputes, there are low expectations for enrollment. Administration had high expectations when the Affordable Care Act was passed. But now that we are a few months passed all the hype, reality is starting to kick in. Premium increases are expected to increase in 2015 as well as a penalty fee for not having insurance. We are still a long ways away from a healthy, functioning system.
I agree with T.J. We have a long way to go. The system is too complex.
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