Lincoln – A bipartisan group of state senators called on the state’s congressional delegation to work with the Trump administration to reopen the Affordable Care Act enrollment period in response to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

“Nebraskans need immediate help,” the letter states. “We are facing a record surge in unemployment. The administration must reopen the Affordable Care Act enrollment period to ensure that everyone who needs it has access to health insurance.”

The Trump administration hasn’t yet reopened the ACA’s Healthcare.gov marketplaces to new customers, despite broad layoffs and growing fears that people will be uninsured during the outbreak.

The option to reopen markets, in what is known as a special enrollment period, would make it easier for people who have recently lost jobs or who had already been uninsured to obtain health insurance. The Trump administration has established such special enrollment periods in the past, typically in the wake of natural disasters.

Nebraskans who buy their own insurance must purchase a policy during the regular open enrollment period in the fall.  If they do not buy a plan and do not qualify for a special enrollment period, they cannot obtain health insurance from the exchange until the next open enrollment.  Reopening the marketplace would also help people with short-term health insurance that does not offer comprehensive benefits.

– State Sen. Kate Bolz’s Office