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Associated Press: Shea-Porter, Kuster: Extend insurance payment deadline more

Shea-Porter, Kuster: Extend insurance payment deadline more

A day after insurers said consumers will get extra time to pay their premiums under President Barack Obama's health care law, New Hampshire Reps. Carol Shea-Porter and Annie Kuster say they want to extend the deadline more.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A day after insurers said consumers will get extra time to pay their premiums under President Barack Obama's health care law, New Hampshire Reps. Carol Shea-Porter and Annie Kuster say they want to extend the deadline more.

On Wednesday, the insurance industry's biggest trade group said consumers who select a plan by Dec. 23 will have 10 more days — until Jan. 10 — to pay their first month's premium. Legislation introduced Thursday by Shea-Porter and Kuster would set the deadline as Jan. 31, instead.

In both cases, consumers would get coverage retroactive to Jan. 1 instead of having to wait until February for coverage.

The bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick and Ron Barber of Arizona, Cheri Bustos of Illinois and Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico.