Delay In Small Business Health Care Enrollment

The Obama administration recently announced a one-year delay of online enrollment for small businesses looking to purchase health coverage through federal Obamacare exchanges, another high-profile setback for HealthCare.gov, politico.com reports. It’s the second delay for online small business enrollment, which the administration had said would begin this month.

The White House is trying to get the troubled enrollment website on track for individuals and families seeking coverage, which is a higher priority. The delay of the small business exchanges, however, comes as little surprise, as the administration had said it would offer alternative ways for small businesses to enroll. Still, it undercuts the White House message that it’s beginning to turn around the disastrous rollout of the health care law.

The administration is focused on its goal of signing up seven million through Obamacare exchanges through the individual marketplaces. That doesn’t count on small business enrollment, which is why Obamacare critics and advocates say the small-business exchanges, known as SHOP, are further down on the administration’s priority list.

House Speaker John Boehner said the delay is more proof that the law should be repealed or delayed. “The president bit off more than he can chew with this health care law, and small businesses are now forced to bear the consequences,” he said in a statement. House Small Business Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) said it’s been apparent for months that the small business enrollment website wasn’t ready to launch.