LEWISTON, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today continued his open enrollment information tour during a press conference at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston to provide information to Maine citizens about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment period, which began on November 1^st and ends on December 15^th. The press conference featured health care professionals and advocates, application assisters, and health care providers and insurers.

          “In the event of an unexpected illness or injury, insurance can save you from medical or financial trouble, and right now, there are a wide range of options in the health care marketplace that can help people across Maine get insured,” Senator King said. “With such a short window to secure coverage, there’s no time to put this off. December 15^th will be here before you know it, and it is so important Maine people go out and shop so they and their families can be happy and healthy. To me, this isn’t something academic or political, it’s about saving lives.”

In recent months, the Administration has launched numerous efforts to undermine open enrollment including reducing the length of open enrollment from 12 weeks to 6 weeks, announcing a 12-hour shutdown of the ACA website over weekends, and drastically cutting funding for advertising and insurance navigator programs. Despite these changes, the Affordable Care Act’s benefits and assistance with enrollment remain available for those who sign up within the shortened time period.

Senator King has been outspoken in his desire to improve the Affordable Care Act to protect coverage for the millions who rely on it for affordable healthcare, and is a cosponsor of the bipartisan bill introduced by Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) to stabilize the individual health insurance marketplace.

In October, Senator King joined health care professionals and advocates at the Opportunity Alliance in South Portland to encourage Maine people to learn more about their health care options and get coverage.

For more information, Maine people can reach out to Maine Consumers for Affordable Health Care, call 1-800-965-7476, and/or visit healthcare.gov.

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