Braley wants ObamaCare enrollment period extended

After questioning Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Wednesday morning, 1

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District Rep. Bruce Braley called on her to extend the enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act to give Iowans a full six months to sign up for health insurance.

A two-month extension would be a “commonsense and reasonable solution so the consumers get the six months to compare, shop and purchase their insurance online,” Braley said after questioning Sebelius at a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on problems in the implementation of ObamaCare.

However, the Waterloo Democrat rejected delaying the individual insurance mandate for a year, similar to the delays authorized by President Obama for businesses.

He also rejected calls for Sebelius' resignation, even though the former Kansas governor accepted blame for problems reported by people trying to enroll in health insurance on a government website.

“She made it clear the buck stops on her desk and I admire her for taking that responsibility,” Braley said. He went on to say Sebelius has responsibility “to make sure problems that are being encountered on the website are being fixed and fixed promptly.”

“I do not think calling for her resignation at this point in time will be helpful to people who are trying to get access and need this problem fixed,” he said.