Instead, it simply listed the enrollment season’s start and end dates, telling recipients that this year’s period is shorter and that they “can confirm, change or update” a plan. The cutback in communication and content coincides with federal health officials’ move in late August to slash government spending on advertising and other outreach strategies for the ACA marketplaces by 90 percent — from $100 million to $10 million. “Every lick of research CMS has done shows the number one concern consumers is cost,” agreed Lori Lodes, former director of that agency’s office of communications. “The emails encourage potential consumers to shop around for the plan that best meets their needs,” an agency spokesman said late Wednesday. Read more:ACA insurance exchanges open for fifth year after Republicans fail to kill them offFifth year’s ACA enrollment season opening with daunting obstaclesACA enrollment schedule may lock millions into unwanted health plans

Source: Washington Post November 01, 2017 18:15 UTC