Posted by Michael Wonder on 05 Jan 2017
Obamacare sign-ups reach 8.8 million as repeal efforts start
5 January 2017 - Insurance enrolment continues through end of January.
Obamacare sign-ups for 2017 coverage rose about 2.3% from the same time last year, as efforts to repeal President Barack Obama’s health care reform begin in Congress.
About 8.8 million people enrolled in individual insurance plans through the HealthCare.gov website as of 31 December, compared with 8.6 million last year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said in an e-mailed statement. The figures are the first to include automatic re-enrolments, providing the most complete picture to date of participation.
Sign-ups for Obamacare plans are a key measure of the program’s success, as Republicans in Congress have begun efforts to repeal at least parts of the 2010 health law. The Obama administration has been working to encourage people to join health plans after the presidential election victory of Republican Donald Trump, who has promised to do away with the program.
