ACA exchanges set to open Tuesday whether there is a shutdown or not

Politico (9/29, Cunningham, Nather) reports that President Obama “has made clear that even if the government closes, the health care show will go on.” On Friday, the President said, “On Tuesday, about 40 million more Americans will be able to finally buy quality, affordable health care, just like anybody else,” and the new ACA exchanges “will be open for business on Tuesday no matter what — even if there’s a government shutdown. That’s a done deal.”

Under the headline, “Health Law Hits Late Snags As Rollout Approaches: Technical Problems Remain as Oct. 1 Deadline Nears,” the Wall Street Journal (9/30, Weaver, Subscription Publication) reports that technical difficulties will make it more difficult for ACA “navigators” to assist uninsured Americans looking for coverage options. However, HHS spokeswoman Joanne Peters is quoted as saying that HHS has “trained and certified thousands of in-person assisters, and will continue training more in the coming days and weeks.”

Administration to unveil new exchange options today

Today, Obama Administration officials plan “to announce scores of new health insurance options to be offered to consumers around the country by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and the United States Office of Personnel Management,” the New York Times (9/30, Pear, Subscription Publication) reports. The effort, which will affect 30 states and the District of Columbia, is “part of a multistate insurance program that Congress authorized in 2010 to increase options for consumers shopping” on the exchanges. The program creates “an alternative to a pure government-run insurance program.” Under the contract, BCBS “will offer different products in different states — a total of more than 150 products, including health maintenance organizations and preferred provider organizations, which give discounts for using selected health care providers.”