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Health Care Officials Warn Uninsured Americans To Get Signed Up By Midnight Sunday

By Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- This is the final weekend of the year for open enrollment in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

The deadline is Sunday night, and health officials, advocates, and insurers are all urging the uninsured not to wait until Sunday to sign up.

The enrollment period is shorter this year but, as with last year, health officials say they're seeing a rush as the deadline approaches. And Kevin Counihan, CEO of the federal marketplace, says help will be available right up until the Sunday midnight deadline.

"Our call center is open 24-7," he tells KYW Newsradio.  "It's going to be open for people to get the assistance they need.  Navigators, assisters, brokers, agents, and others are all prepared to assist people this weekend."

Andy Slavitt, of the federal government's Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, says the healthcare.gov web site got 1½ times as much traffic this week as last, and the phone assistance center got one-third more calls.

"Despite the increase in volume, both the web site and the call center are operating well, as expected, with minimal wait times," he notes.

And Independence Blue Cross is keeping its lobby, at 1901 Market Street in center city, open and staffed with assisters all weekend.

 

 

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