New York will extend its open enrollment period for ObamaCare plans, citing concerns about an earlier deadline set by the federal government.
New York’s open enrollment will now begin on Nov. 1 and end on Jan. 31, officials said on Thursday.
The Trump administration cut this year’s open enrollment in half for states that use the federal marketplace. It will end for those states on Dec. 15.
{mosads}But New York, and some other states that run their own exchanges, have opted to lengthen their enrollment periods.
“Our goal is to ensure that consumers have adequate time to shop for and enroll in the health plan that is best for their family,” Donna Frescatore, executive director of New York State of Health, said in a statement.
Her office said a longer enrollment period has been shown to attract younger people.
California, Colorado, Minnesota, Washington, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., have all extended their open enrollment periods past the deadline set by the administration.
The Department of Health and Human Services finalized a rule in April cutting the enrollment period in half, saying the new deadline will more closely align with Medicare and the private market.
But supporters of ObamaCare worry it will lead to fewer people signing up for coverage.