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U.S. NEWS Monday 2 noveMber 2020
‘Obamacare’ sign-ups begin as millions more are uninsured

By RICARDO ALONSO- pansion, adopted by all
ZALDIVAR but 12 states.
Associated Press Medicaid enrollment has
WASHINGTON (AP) — Mil- gone up by nearly 4 million
lions of Americans who people since March, but
have lost health insurance it's still unclear how many
in an economy shaken by laid-off workers are coping
the coronavirus can sign after the loss of employer
up for taxpayer-subsidized coverage in the coronavi-
coverage starting Sunday. rus economy.
It's not a new COVID relief Those who are healthy
program from the govern- most likely have other prior-
ment but the return of an- ities, such as finding anoth-
nual sign-up season under er job. Workers who were
the Affordable Care Act, furloughed, but not laid off,
better known as "Obam- may have been able to
acare." Open enrollment keep their coverage. Some
lasts through Dec. 15. appear to have switched
The Centers for Medicare to a spouse's plan, and
and Medicaid Services, those age 65 and older
which runs HealthCare.gov, can get on Medicare.
says premiums are down The nonpartisan Kaiser
slightly on average for 2021 Family Foundation esti-
and most people will have This image provided by U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service shows the website for mates that 80% of those
at least three insurers from HealthCare.gov. who lost workplace health
which to pick plans. Lower- Associated Press insurance are eligible for
income people and even ministration is doing little to million newly uninsured navirus cases. coverage under the law,
middle-class families may promote sign-ups, having people. That's on top of 26 Administration officials say either through the insur-
qualify for tax credits that previously slashed the pro- million uninsured last year, HealthCare.gov is open for ance markets or Medicaid.
can greatly reduce what gram's ad budget. before the pandemic, or business and ready to han- Some private businesses,
they pay monthly for pre- "Affordable health cover- about 8% of the U.S. popu- dle sign-ups online or via its such as HealthSherpa.com,
miums. age is more essential than lation. call center. "We'll be work- have created a niche mar-
But President Donald ever during the pandemic," "There is a coverage cri- ing through the upcoming ket helping people enroll
Trump, unrelenting in his op- said House Speaker Nancy sis happening, " said Stan open enrollment period...to in HealthCare.gov plans.
position to President Barack Pelosi, D-Calif., who's urg- Dorn, a health policy expert ensure a smooth user expe- Former Obama administra-
Obama's signature domes- ing people to enroll even now with Families USA, a lib- rience," CMS Administrator tion officials are trying to
tic program, is asking the if Trump keeps trying to do eral advocacy group. "And Seema Verma said. promote sign-ups through
Supreme Court to overturn away with the law. there are fewer resources More than 11 million peo- GetAmericaCovered.org.
the entire law. Hard numbers on how virus- available to help, thanks to ple currently have cover- Community organizations
Trump has been promising related job losses have af- the Trump cuts." age through HealthCare. also play a role helping
a much better replace- fected health coverage Dorn worries that's "a setup gov and state-run health people with paperwork.
ment since before taking are not available because for epic failure," and many insurance markets offering But, Dorn said, "a lot of peo-
office, but never came out the most reliable govern- people will remain unin- subsidized private plans. ple who need health insur-
with his plan. The justices ment surveys will not be out sured even as states across The health law also covers ance may not know there
are scheduled to hear the until next year. Estimates the country are seeing another 12 million people this is there chance to sign
case Nov. 10, and the ad- range from 5 million to 10 alarming increases in coro- through its Medicaid ex- up."q
U.S. priest who founded Knights of Columbus is beatified

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — said the miracle concerned ing the Knights with a small
The late Connecticut priest the medically inexplicable group of parishioners while
who founded the Knights cure of a baby with a life- he was an assistant pastor
of Columbus moved a step threatening condition who at Saint Mary's Church in
closer to possible sainthood was healed in utero in 2015 New Haven.
with his beatification Satur- after the family prayed to His tomb is in the rear of St.
day, as authorized by Pope the Roman Catholic priest. Mary's.
Francis. The family, which named Today the lay charitable or-
The celebration for the Rev. the baby Michael in Mc- ganization is one of the big-
Michael McGivney at the Givney's honor, attended gest Catholic organizations
Cathedral of St. Joseph in Saturday's Mass, the Hart- in the world, with about
Hartford included the read- ford Courant reported. 2 million members in the
ing of a letter from Francis "I thought about bringing Americas, Caribbean, Asia
and the unveiling of a tap- a relic back to our house, and Europe.
estry featuring McGivney's but ever since Michael has Francis, in his letter, praised
portrait. been born we've felt like McGivney for his "zeal for
Francis in May approved he was our own little relic," the proclamation of the
a miracle attributed to the his father, Daniel Schachle, Gospel and generous con-
intercession of McGivney, said. The family lives in Dick- cern for his brothers and sis-
which is required to be be- son, Tennessee. ters." In this photo provided by the Archdiocese of Hartford, a tapestry
atified, the first major step McGivney died at age McGivney was ordained a showing Rev. Michael McGivney hangs above the alter at the
before canonization. 38 of pneumonia in 1890, priest of the Archdiocese of Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, Conn, Saturday, Oct. 31,
2020.
The Knights of Columbus eight years after found- Hartford in 1877.q Associated Press