An administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said computer systems had been programmed to accept consumers who try to enroll through Dec. 24, “proactively recognizing that we need to be prepared to handle heavy online traffic or other technical issues.”
In recent days, insurance industry leaders have protested other 11th-hour rule changes by the administration. They include a decision late last week by the Department of Health and Human Services to offer an exemption from a requirement that most Americans have insurance as of Jan. 1. The exemption applies to people whose health plans are being canceled because the policies failed to meet new federal benefits standards.
On Monday morning, one insurance industry official, informed by The Washington Post about the quiet deadline extension, criticized the move. “Making yet another last-minute change to the rules by shortening an already-tight time period in which to process enrollments makes it even harder to ensure people who have selected a plan are able to have their coverage begin in January,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the change has not been made public.