ObamaCare open enrollment kicks off a week before Election Day

Obamacare enrollment has opened up again for Americans.

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published 1 November 2016

The 2017 open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act kicked off Tuesday, just seven days before Election Day. Despite increasing prices and decreasing choices on the marketplace, an estimated 11.4 million are expected to re-enroll in or sign up for ObamaCare policies between Nov. 1 and Jan. 31, though the Obama administration hopes for closer to 13.8 million enrollees for the year.

Because several insurers pulled out of or restricted coverage in many states' ObamaCare exchanges due to costs, the Chicago Tribune reported the "average increase of the benchmark is 22 percent — but, depending on your location, you may face a higher cost." While there were an average of 47 plan choices per marketplace shopper last year, this year there are only 30.

ObamaCare has already become a big focus of the presidential election, with Hillary Clinton vowing improvements to the existing healthcare law and Donald Trump promising a swift repeal of it. Because the enrollment period ends 11 days after Inauguration Day 2017, Politico reported the "outcome of the 2017 enrollment season could have sweeping consequences for the next administration's immediate priorities," especially if enrollment falls short of estimates.