More than 30 Democratic senators want the Obama administration to create special enrollment periods so uninsured pregnant women can enroll in Obamacare, an idea the administration has toyed with.
A letter from the senators said that if a woman gets pregnant now, she wouldn’t be able to get coverage because open enrollment ended on Feb. 15. The administration will hold an additional enrollment period from March 15 to April 30, but only for individuals who may have to pay the individual mandate penalty for not having insurance.
“Without access to maternity care coverage, these women are forced to either forgo this critical care or face significant out-of-pocket costs,” according to the letter signed by 37 senators to Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell and released Tuesday.
Healthcare advocates cheered the senators’ letter, and asked the Obama administration to heed the request.
“It’s unacceptable that pregnant women without maternity coverage could face more than $23,000 in medical costs — or worse, suffer severe health consequences or death,” said Christina Postolowski, health policy manager for the advocacy group Young Invincibles.
The administration allows a woman who recently had a baby to enroll in marketplace coverage even if it is outside the enrollment period, but doesn’t allow it for prenatal care.
The Affordable Care Act mandates that new insurance plans include maternity care.
The administration said earlier this month that it has heard advocates’ call for a special enrollment period but has not taken any action.
