"I'm Not Dead Yet!" -- ACA Open Enrollment is in full swing regardless of Trump/GOP promises

So, for about 24 hours or so I was feeling nearly suicidal, and this morning I expressed my own tiny bit of symbolic gloom by swapping out the normal header graphic for this one:

I was planning on leaving it like that for a day or so, then swapping it back again tomorrow...but since then I've received several emails/messages/comments from people along the lines of this one:

We are all devastated about the outcome of this election and that the ACA is on the line. Like so many others I wanted to crawl into a hole yesterday. I myself will lose my insurance as will so many of my family, friends and so many people that I assisted and encouraged in their own enrollment over the years.

This is why we can't/won't give up!

Please take that ACA close ups heading DOWN! You have been one of the greatest sources of inspiration about the implementation of this law. Analyze the difference in enrollment pre and post election. Show us all that Americans enrolled despite rate increases and presumably slowed down during our "time of mourning" But like many Americans, no matter who was elected...I rely on these policies...I am enrolling because I have NO OTHER way to obtain health insurance.

Have your numbers ready for when we must do battle in DC. We need you,, we rely on you...you can't let the American people down!!

I think the praise of me is a bit over the top, but I'm flattered regardless. The larger point is that quite a few people seem to feel that what I do here still has some value, so I took the snarky header down and am back in full swing with the original mission of this site: "Realtime" tracking of ACA exchange enrollments for the 2017 open enrollment period.

The other major development which caused me to move up my timetable, of course, is the announcement a few hours ago that over 100,000 people enrolled via HC.gov yesterday alone...suggesting that #OE4 is actually pretty much on pace with my original projections so far after all.

In short, whatever ends up happening starting in January, rumors of #OE4's death appear to be greatly exaggerated.

To underscore this point, I just received this press release from the HHS Dept. as well:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Thursday, November 11, 2016

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released the following statement on 2017 Open Enrollment:

“We are all in for this Open Enrollment, and we continue to execute a robust outreach strategy with partners across the nation to let Americans know affordable coverage is available and that they should enroll by December 15th for coverage that starts January 1st. We’re encouraging anyone who might need coverage for 2017 to visit healthcare.gov to check out their options—most can find a plan for $75 or less per month.

"This is coverage that is vital to millions of Americans, and that is being proven yet again as more people sign up, including yesterday, when more than 100,000 people signed up for coverage, the highest single-day total so far during this Open Enrollment.”

— HHS Press Secretary Marjorie Connolly

In addition, these notices have been posted by a couple of the state exchanges:

Maryland Health Benefit Exchange:

The election doesn’t change why Marylanders still need to get covered now

We remind Marylanders that now is the time to apply for 2017 coverage and financial help to help lower your insurance costs. Open enrollment ends January 31, and you must sign up by December 15 for coverage January 1.

The national election has raised questions about the future of the Affordable Care Act. The results have no immediate impact on Maryland’s state-based marketplace. While it’s possible some provisions of the ACA may change in the coming years, the ACA continues to be law and will continue to be implemented in Maryland.

Your Health Idaho:

Your Health Idaho’s Open Enrollment Continues

BOISE, Idaho -- Your Health Idaho open enrollment continues through January 31, 2017.

Idaho established its healthcare exchange at the state level, allowing us to design, implement, and maintain the exchange with local control.

The exchange is working for Idahoans by offering choice, transparency and competition. More than 95,000 Idahoans have found health insurance coverage through Your Health Idaho, placing it second in the nation for per capita enrollments. Unlike other states, Idahoans have more choice this year than ever before with 225 certified health and dental plans.

Your Health Idaho will work with state and federal lawmakers as the future of affordable healthcare insurance is reexamined. We will continue to help Idahoans find health insurance throughout this open enrollment period and beyond.

During open enrollment, our customer support center can be reached at 855-944-3246 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. MT.

The "...and beyond" part is very interesting indeed.

UPDATE: Access Health CT chimes in as well:

Access Health CT, the state’s online health insurance marketplace, will continue to offer open enrollment through Jan. 31.

Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, chairwoman of the board of Access Health CT, on Wednesday emphasized that the site will continue to offer health insurance, and that if there are changes in the federal Affordable Care Act under President Donald Trump, the state will work to maintain its program for residents.

“I want to reassure Connecticut consumers that Access Health CT will continue to be a vital link, connecting them to high-quality, affordable health insurance,” she said in a news release. “In Connecticut, we’ve seen more than 800,000 residents use the state healthcare exchange to find coverage. During this open enrollment period, just as we’ve done before, Access Health CT stands ready to assist consumers in finding and enrolling in the healthcare plan that best meets their needs."