On January 20, 2017, following his inauguration, Donald Trump signed an Executive Order allowing government agencies, ". . . to waive, defer, grant exemption from, or delay the implementation of any provision or requirement of the Act [Affordable Care Act] that would impose a fiscal burden on any State . . .”
Presumably, one of the actions taken under that Executive Order, Trump’s administration has ended Affordable Care Act contracts that brought assistance into libraries, businesses and urban neighborhoods in 18 cities, meaning shoppers on the insurance exchanges will have fewer places to turn for help signing up for coverage.
It’s an attempt to damage the health law's marketplaces by Trump who has made clear his intention, if repeal by Congress fails, is to let "Obamacare" fail.
In the cities affected, people will have 45 days to shop for 2018 coverage, starting Nov. 1 and ending Dec. 15. In previous years, they had twice that much time. The shorter enrollment period makes it more difficult to enroll the uninsured and those who are already covered to re-enroll or shop for new policies.
The administration, earlier this year, pulled advertising for the sign-up website HealthCare.gov.
If the current congressional attempts to repeal health care fails, Donald Trump could further destabilize the marketplaces where people shop for coverage by not promoting them or not enforcing the mandate compelling people to get coverage. The administration has already threatened to withhold payments to insurers to help people afford care, which would prompt insurers to sharply increase prices. And there are a number of other acts Trump could take to sabotage the Affordable Care Act, and let it fail.
By Carla K. Johnson
