After delaying the deadline by a day for which to apply for Obamacare for residents of 36 states that have to buy insurance on HealthCare.Gov, the Obama administration said this week that any user who “legitimately tried to apply” for insurance before December 24th may still get covered by January 1st.
The Obamacare landscape in the 14 states that have their own exchanges is just as–if not more–confusing, with different states having extended their deadlines and with some allowing residents to retroactively purchase and pay for insurance so that they can be covered on January 1st. Insurance officials have said there has been a lot of “confusion” at the federal and state levels.
A CNN report detailed the chaotic nature of Obamacare in some of the states with their own exchanges:
- Maryland: The deadline is December 27 but with “at least two Maryland insurers giving applicants until Dec. 31.” Residents have until January 15th to pay.
- Oregon: The deadline is December 27, and residents have until January 15th pay.
- Minnesota: Residents have until Dec. 31 to pick a plan, and coverage will start the next day even though they do not have to pay until January 10th.
- Rhode Island: The deadline is December 31, but residents do not have to pay until January 6.
- Washington: Residents have until January 15 to pick and pay for a plan, but insurance coverage will be retroactive to January 1st.
- California: The deadline is January 6th.
- Vermont: The deadline is January 7th.
- Connecticut: The deadline is January 10th.