A Seattle cancer survivor’s RV road trip across Western Washington to raise awareness about the shortened enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act made a stop Tuesday on Capitol Hill.
Julie Negrin, who says she has survived four separate battles with cancer, set up her latest workshop with information and help for people looking to sign up at E Pike’s Retail Therapy.
While the GOP hasn’t succeeded in dismantling Obamacare, the effort to erode the Affordable Care Act includes a shortened enrollment period — November 1st to January 15th for Washington State coverage. “This grassroots crusade is a response to the federal shortening of the enrollment period by several weeks, the reduction of enrollment hours, plans to close the enrollment website every Sunday through the enrollment period and cutting the marketing budget by 90%,” the announcement of Tuesday’s session reads. Negrin has also completed ACA enrollment stops in Wenatchee, Ellensburg and Cle Elum, Camano Island, Whidbey Island, and today was scheduled to be in Tacoma.
Retail Therapy owner Wazhma Samizay hosted the Capitol Hill event because she sees a large demand from her customers and friends. Three “state-certified navigators” were on hand to help people work on their enrollment. Samizay also provided snacks and drinks for those waiting to sign up.
Tuesday, Washington’s Sen. Patty Murray called on the Trump administration to extend the open enrollment period for the federal exchange which closes Friday — although Washington state remains open until January 15th. “Sen. Murray is the top Democrat on the Senate health committee and has been working to hold the Trump Administration accountable for its repeated sabotage of the ACA,” a Murray office spokesperson tells CHS.
You can learn more about the tour at teamaca.org.
Need help with your enrollment? Local help centers are listed here including E Pike’s Gay City which offers weekday help by appointment.
Same policy as last year, cost increased 25%.