With Trump cutting ad money, Pennsylvania is funding campaign to remind people to sign up for Obamacare

Oct. 27--Pennsylvania is getting the word out on TV, radio and social media that the enrollment period to buy health insurance through Obamacare has been cut short.

The move -- part of a $100,000 state-funded effort -- comes after the Trump administration cut federal funding for health insurance education by 90 percent to $10 million, according to The New York Times.

State officials said they hope to educate people about their options and remind them the Affordable Care Act is still in effect despite several failed congressional efforts to repeal it and other Trump cuts.

Most importantly, they want to remind them the enrollment period will end on Dec. 15, earlier than prior years.

"I've made it a priority to do everything in my power to be sure Pennsylvanians have access to affordable health insurance," Gov. Tom Wolf said in a press release. "The Affordable Care Act, while not perfect, is allowing more Pennsylvanians access to health care and we want to be sure people using the exchange have all the information they need at the ready to help them make the right choice for them and their families."

Starting this week, the insurance department will run television, radio, video and social media ads, including some targeted toward Spanish speakers.

They'll highlight that the enrollment deadline to purchase individual market health insurance coverage this year is Dec. 15, not Jan. 31 as in past years.

"This enrollment period may be the only chance to shop for insurance," said Acting Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman.

In Pennsylvania, more than half a million people have insurance through the individual market, said insurance department spokesman Ronald Ruman.

As of Feb. 3, more than 426,000 Pennsylvanians signed up for coverage for 2017, according to a fact sheet from the state. More than 412,347 enrolled in marketplace plans in 2016.

The state will continue to provide resources to residents, including the Consumers' Checkbook, which will be available Monday and allows Pennsylvanians to compare different plans including individual plans and those that are part of the exchange.

In addition to cutting funding for insurance education, the Trump administration cut subsidies to insurance companies that provide coverage to lower-income individuals. The move resulted in companies participating in the Affordable Care Act marketplace in the Lehigh Valley raising their rates between 10 and 49 percent.

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