Federal health officials began quietly urging counselors around the
country this week to stop using paper applications to enroll people in
insurance under the health overhaul because of concerns those applications
would not be processed in time.
They'd previously encouraged alternate sign-up methods amid the
fumbled rollout of their online insurance website.
Enrollment counselors operating in several states, insurance
brokers and a government official who works with navigators in Illinois
Consumers must sign up for health insurance by Dec. 23 in order
for coverage to start in January. Federal health officials now say paper
applications should be a method of last resort.
Instead, they want consumers to complete applications online or
by phone.
