Obamacare signups resume amid political rancor

Nov. 01--HIGH POINT -- People here and across the state and nation will sign up for Obamacare starting today wondering what will happen to the program that's become a lightning rod issue in the presidential midterm elections.

The annual Affordable Care Act enrollment period, which continues through Dec. 15, arrives today less than a week before Election Day on Tuesday and amid political rancor over the fate of the health insurance program. Democratic candidates have elevated health care coverage and the preservation of Obamacare as a key issue in the midterm election, while Republicans continue to argue that the program is a financial house of cards that's not sustainable.

A central point of contention has been what would happen to the most popular feature of Obamacare -- protection of patients with pre-existing medical conditions -- if the Affordable Care Act were finally to be repealed.

"The biggest perception is that people are still calling up and asking, 'Is it still around?'" said Don Hild, sales director with Blue Moon Benefits Group in High Point. "The perception is that it has been attacked so much that people wonder what's left of it."

Hild's office has fielded a number of calls from customers or would-be customers wondering if they can sign up or re-enroll. He emphasizes that the program -- and its subsidies to pay for health care coverage for those who qualify -- remain in place.

"It's basically intact the way it has been since 2014 with a few moderate variations," Hild told The High Point Enterprise. "I reassure people that it's still there."

Another Affordable Care Act enrollment specialist, Ed Squires, said he's been receiving calls from customers wanting to sign up for or re-enroll in Obamacare.

"I anticipate a higher enrollment this year than past years. People are calling more and more wanting the Affordable Care Act," said Squires, an Obamacare specialist with Elite Benefits Group based in High Point.

Through his agency, Squires expects to enroll a few hundred clients for health care coverage.

"We have a lot of people who have come back and want to use the service again," Squires told The Enterprise.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of N.C. Authorized Agent Mark Thacker said he's receiving calls from clients who want to re-enroll and see if they should change coverage plans for a better rate.

"People are calling in kind of curious about it," he told The Enterprise.

Thacker said trying to gauge how voters will cast ballots based on whether they do or don't want to sign up for the Affordable Care Act is difficult to pinpoint.

"With the election coming up, people are thinking about a million different things, and health care is one of them," he said.

pjohnson@hpenews.com -- 336-888-3528 -- @HPEpaul

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