Elections

Obamacare, facing uncertain future, sees surge in signups on day after election

By Brian Murphy

bmurphy@mcclatchy.com
FILE - This Oct. 24, 2016, file photo, shows the HealthCare.gov 2017 website home page on a laptop in Washington. Within the health care industry, which accounts for about 18 percent of the economy, a Donald Trump presidency is being viewed with trepidation. Insurers, pharmaceuticals and hospitals would all stand to lose if reversal of Obama’s health care law leads to a surge in the number of uninsured Americans. Even if the Affordable Care Act is rife with complexity and complications for health care companies, it does offer the long-term prospect of more paying customers.
FILE - This Oct. 24, 2016, file photo, shows the HealthCare.gov 2017 website home page on a laptop in Washington. Within the health care industry, which accounts for about 18 percent of the economy, a Donald Trump presidency is being viewed with trepidation. Insurers, pharmaceuticals and hospitals would all stand to lose if reversal of Obama’s health care law leads to a surge in the number of uninsured Americans. Even if the Affordable Care Act is rife with complexity and complications for health care companies, it does offer the long-term prospect of more paying customers. Pablo Martinez Monsivais AP

The Affordable Care Act was one of President Barack Obama’s biggest accomplishments during his eight years in office.

It is also one of the first things that President-elect Donald Trump and Republican leaders in Congress have vowed change when Trump takes office in January. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Wednesday repealing the ACA — or Obamacare as it is popularly known — is “pretty high on our agenda as you know. I would be shocked if we didn’t move forward and keep our commitment to the American people.”

House Republicans have held more than 60 votes to repeal the law. Without Obama in the Oval Office, experts expect Trump and Congress to “repeal and replace” Obamacare, but with what exactly?

That’s tough part, especially since about 20 million people have gained health insurance through the ACA, according to government estimates from March.

And that number could rise before Trump’s inauguration.

Health & Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell tweeted that on Wednesday, the day after the election, had the highest enrollment numbers this period. Obamacare enrollment for 2017 opened on Nov. 1 with sharp increases in premiums. For now, open enrollment continues through Jan. 31.

Enrollment is not the only Obamacare-related increase happening after Tuesday’s election.

Searches for intrauterine device (IUD) birth control spiked after Trump’s win, according to Google Trends. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurers must provide contraceptive services without a copayment or coinsurance.

This story was originally published November 10, 2016 at 1:04 PM with the headline "Obamacare, facing uncertain future, sees surge in signups on day after election."

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