WASHINGTON (AP) — Anticipating more health care disruptions, the Obama administration Thursday announced a batch of measures intended to help consumers avoid lapses in their care and coverage as the president's overhaul takes effect in January.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius also announced a one-month extension of a special insurance program created by the law for people who cannot get coverage because of health problems. Scheduled to expire at the end of the year, the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan will remain in place through January.

Some of the measures are binding, such as requiring insurers to provide coverage on Jan. 1 for any customer who pays by New Year's Eve. Others are recommendations, like urging insurers to let customers temporarily keep filling prescriptions covered by a previous plan.

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