Last-minute surge pushes Obamacare sign-ups to 1.1 million
Alastair Jamieson NBC News
21 hours ago
A last-minute surge took the number of online sign-ups for President Barack Obama’s signature health coverage to 1.1 million, federal officials said early Sunday.
“December enrollment so far is over 7 times that of October and November,” Marilyn Tavenner, head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said in a blog post ahead of Tuesday night’s original deadline for applications.
Of the total number enrolled for so-called ‘Obamacare’, nearly one million signed up in December alone, compared to only 27,000 in October when the website’s launched was beset by technical glitches.
The windfall comes at a critical moment for Obama's sweeping health care law, which becomes "real" for many Americans on Jan. 1 when coverage through the exchanges and key patient protections kick in, The Associated Press reported.
The White House last week signaled an extension for sign-ups in light of the last-minute surge and earlier site errors, although it has yet to specify details.
“We are eager to assist millions more Americans gain the health security offered by the Affordable Care Act in the weeks and months ahead,” Tavenner added.
more:
http://www.nbcnews.com/health/last-minute-surge-pushes-obamacare-sign-ups-1-1-million-2D11818050
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