Obama Administration to Announce Year-Long Delay for Online Small-Business Enrollment in Obamacare

The administration will today announce a year-long delay in online Obamacare enrollment for small businesses through the federal health-care exchange, according to a Department of Health and Human Services memo obtained by Politico.

This delay, which applies only to the federally run SHOP exchanges operating in over 30 states, follows on the heels of the administration’s postponing online enrollment for small businesses just before the state and federal exchanges’ October 1 launch date. The administration said then that online enrollment would be available by the end of November. The businesses have been able to apply for health insurance through paper applications in the meantime.

HHS will also announce other enrollment paths, such as through a broker or directly with an insurer.