US grants extra time to enrol for health care

The Obama administration announced that people who've started applying for health insurance but aren't able to finish before the March 31 enrolment deadline will get extra time.
The White House is scrambling to meet a goal of 6 million signed up through new online markets that offer subsidized private health insurance to people without access to coverage on the job.
The HealthCare.Gov website got more that 1 million visitors Monday, and the administration also wants to prevent a repeat of website problems that soured consumers last fall.
Enrollment has already crossed the 5 million mark despite a problem-filled startup.
"We are experiencing a surge in demand and are making sure that we will be ready to help consumers who may be in line by the deadline to complete enrollment, either online or over the phone," Health and Human Services spokesman Aaron Albright said.

Officials said the grace period will be available to people on the honor system, meaning applicants will have to attest that special circumstances or complex cases prevented them from finishing by March 31.

The latest tweak to the health care rollout is certain to infuriate Republican critics of President Barack Obama's signature legislative achievement.
It follows delays of the law's requirements that medium-sized to large employers provide coverage or face fines. Republicans are making repeal of the health care law its rallying cry for the November elections when control of congress will be at stake.
It's unclear how long the extension will last. Some have urged the administration to allow until April 15, the tax filing deadline. People who are due refunds may be willing to put some of that money toward health care premiums.

The White House had signaled last week that a grace period of some sort was in the works. Spokesman Jay Carney said Friday that people in line by the deadline would be able to complete their applications.
Administration officials argue that's not extending the deadline. They compare it to the Election Day practice of allowing people to vote if they are in line when the polls close.