Health-Law Sign-Up Period Extended for a Week. Reaction by insurers warned: This could cause further problems in an enrollment process plagued by computer errors.

From The Wall Street Journal:

The Obama administration said Friday it is giving people an extra week in December to sign up for new health-insurance coverage, a move that insurers warned could cause further problems in an enrollment process plagued by computer errors.

 

It . . . means insurers would have barely a week to process some applications before people are eligible to use their new coverage.

 

If applications aren't processed in time, some people could start the year believing they are insured, only to discover that snags in their applications left them uncovered.

 

Along with the December delay, the administration said it was planning to push back enrollment dates for 2015. Enrollment for that year will start Nov. 15, 2014, instead of the previously planned Oct. 15, and last until Jan. 15, 2015, officials said. The shift was intended to reassure insurers. It also means that enrollment will begin after the 2014 midterm elections are over.