Kurt's Work

Congressman Kurt Schrader (D-OR) introduced legislation to extend the Affordable Care Act’s enrollment period for up to one month. Governor John Kitzhaber (D-OR) is seeking to extend the enrollment period for Cover Oregon, and Congressman Schrader’s bill will guarantee the legal authority to do so.

“The technical issues that continue to plague Cover Oregon’s website have made the enrollment process back home extraordinarily difficult despite Oregonians’ best efforts to sign up. Given that difficulty, it only makes sense to extend the enrollment period for up to one month. That way, folks have more time to consult with insurance agents and brokers and complete the paper enrollment process so they can avoid paying a penalty,” said Schrader. “I look forward to resolving this here in Washington and continuing to support and advocate for administrative actions to ensure that Oregonians get the health insurance coverage they need.”

Congressman Schrader took action on this issue following the Oregon Legislature’s passage of a bill that instructs Cover Oregon to seek an extension of the open enrollment period. The ACA Open Enrollment Extension Act, H.R. 4210, would allow states who opted to build their own health insurance marketplaces to extend their enrollment periods for up to one month, depending on the circumstances of each individual state.

Since last October, Congressman Schrader has worked tirelessly to get to the bottom of the health care law’s troubled rollout in Oregon, demanding accountability from those responsible and proposing legislative fixes where necessary. The Congressman’s latest bill is a product of the conversations he has had with his constituents and state and local officials throughout this time about how best to address the challenges they are facing.