WASHINGTON, D.C.– Last evening, the Obama Administration unilaterally decided to allow individuals who claim they tried and failed (using the honor system) to get health insurance over healthcare.gov before the March 31, 2014 deadline to complete their enrollment by mid-April.  Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) released the following statement:

"Four years after becoming law, and days before the end of the open enrollment period, the president issued yet another unilateral delay of his law. One thing is clear, this law has not worked for the American people.

“Three weeks ago, the House passed my bill, the Simple Fairness Act, with strong bipartisan support to offer relief and fairness to all Americans from this deadline. Instead of working with me and Congress for a solution, the president issued a veto threat. Then, Secretary Sebelius at a Ways and Means hearing declared there would be no more delays of this law.

“Sadly, we have another broken promise, and a president who refuses to work with Congress to fix his law.”    

WTAS:

“The government will not try to determine whether the person actually made an effort to sign up.” (Obama administration extends health care enrollment deadline for some, Fox News, 3/26/14)

“This method will rely on an honor system; the government will not try to determine whether the person is telling the truth.” (Obama administration will allow more time to enroll in health care on federal marketplace, Amy Goldstein, Washington Post, 3/26/14)

“Did anyone really doubt that the final Obamacare enrollment deadline would slip, too?”(A brief history of Obamacare delays, Susan Levine, Politico, 3/26/14)

“Insurance industry sources did not want to comment in detail . . . but said anytime changes are made,it complicates their work and will require manual workarounds to help complete applications.” (Obamacare applicants to get more deadline flexibility, Kevin Bohn, CNN, 3/26/14)

“It’s yet another improvisation by the administration, designed to get as many people under the Obamacare tent as possible.” (Surprise! White House to delay ‘firm’ Obamacare enrollment deadline past March 31, Avik Roy, Forbes, 3/25/14)

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