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Rep Anna Eshoo

Eshoo Leads Energy and Commerce Democrats in Calling for Extending Open Enrollment Periods for HealthCare.gov and Medicare

April 3, 2020

Washington, D.C. – Today, Health Subcommittee Chairwoman Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) led all 31 Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats in sending a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma. The letter calls for CMS to immediately extend the Medicare General Enrollment Period and offer a special enrollment period on HealthCare.gov as the country faces an unprecedented disruption to the lives and livelihoods of Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Your agency must make enrolling in health coverage as fast and easy as possible so that all Americans can access COVID-19 testing and treatment," Eshoo and her colleagues said. "We urgently request that you do everything within your authority to extend enrollment periods for Medicare and HealthCare.gov so every American, regardless of age and employment status, can have access to health insurance during this public health emergency."

The Members of Congress shared their concerns that eligible Medicare enrollees faced barriers to enrollment during the Medicare General Enrollment Period that ended on March 31st due to the closure of Social Security offices to the public. Americans who live in the 38 states that rely on HealthCare.gov also need CMS to declare a special enrollment period so they can benefit from enrolling in low-cost, high quality Marketplace coverage.

The text of the letter can be found HERE.

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