California, Oregon also make deadline accommodations

California officials say they will stick with the March 31 deadline for applying for health insurance but are granting those who start an application by then until April 15 to finish it. Oregon officials, meanwhile, gave residents another 30 days to get coverage through Cover Oregon. And in Texas, advocates continue their all-out push despite the relaxation of the federal exchange deadline.

Los Angeles Times: California Sticks With March 31 Deadline For Obamacare -- For Now
California says March 31 remains the deadline to apply for Obamacare, but the state will give residents who start an application by then until April 15 to finish signing up. Wednesday, the Obama administration said it would allow consumers using the federal exchange in 36 states to complete enrollment for health insurance after next week's deadline as long as they declare that they started the process before the end of the month (Terhune, 3/26).

The Oregonian: Feds Let Cover Oregon Extend Health Insurance Enrollment Until April 30
Oregonians have another 30 days to get health insurance through the Cover Oregon health exchange. The so-called open-enrollment period was slated to end March 31. But the federal government granted Oregonians another 30 days' grace, the state announced Wednesday. This will give people who have not yet applied through Cover Oregon more time to sign up, access financial assistance and get covered. Gov. John Kitzhaber also announced the extension means Oregon small business owners will have access to more affordable health insurance for their employees in the form of tax credits (Manning, 3/26).

The Texas Tribune: Extension Isn't Altering ACA Enrollment Strategies
Federal officials may have announced an extension this week for individuals who were in the process of enrolling in health plans through the federal insurance marketplace, but Texas advocates of the federal health reform law are still pushing individuals to finish the process by the original deadline. Meanwhile, opponents of the law criticized the Obama administration for its decision, saying it's another example of how the health law is severely flawed (Ura, 3/26).