A recent article in the
New York Times reports on recent enrollment data under the federal Affordable Care Act. According to the Obama administration, 2.2 million people had signed up by December 28 for health insurance through HealthCare.gov and the state-based websites. In December, for the first time since the marketplaces opened, the number of people selecting plans in the federal exchange exceeded the number signing up through state exchanges.
According to administration officials:
- 55% of people signing up during the first three months are age 45 to 64;
- 24% are age 18 to 34, the age group that is usually considered healthier and in need of fewer services;
- 33% are age 55 to 64 (the age range just before people qualify for Medicare);
- 54% are female and 46% are male; and
- nearly 80% qualified for federal subsidies to reduce their premiums.
Federal officials said they did not know how many people selecting plans were previously uninsured or how many have paid premiums. The article discusses the implications of these data for the viability of the marketplaces.
