WASHINGTON (AP/WMOT) — President Barack Obama's health insurance program faces another big deadline today.
Tonight at 2 a.m. Central Time is the deadline for new customers to pick a health plan that will take effect Jan. 1.
For current customers, it's the deadline to make changes that could reduce expected premium increases ahead of the New Year.
The Hope Clinic in Murfreesboro is one of the places here in the mid-state where people can go for help navigating the online insurance marketplace. The clinic’s Cindy Rhea says her navigators have full appointment books today with a few walk-ins hoping for an opening.
“Just inquiring about the insurance; whether they qualify or not. Some want to compare with what their paying now. If they’ve gone out and just purchased it on their own, they want to see if they qualify for any of the subsidies or tax credits or anything. So we’re helping them with that and then helping them apply if they do.”
Rhea says the healthcare.gov website is working well today, but says if you need phone assistance it’s a 30 minute wait.
If you need insurance by January 1, today’s the last day to register, but open enrollment does continue through Feb. 15.