Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Obamacare Sign-Ups For 2015 Expected To Top 10 Million
Los Angeles Times: Obamacare Sign-Ups Expected To Top 10 Million Amid Sizable Expansion
As the deadline for signing up for coverage through the Affordable Care Act approaches Sunday, enrollment in plans provided through the federal health law is on track to expand substantially over 2014. Nationwide, preliminary tallies from state and federal health agencies suggest sign-ups should top 10 million and will probably go even higher in the final rush this weekend. (Levey and Terhune, 2/11)
The Washington Post's Wonkblog: With The Obamacare Enrollment Window Closing, HealthCare.gov Activity Picks Up
Nearly 7.75 million people have so far signed up for 2015 health plans through the 37 states using HealthCare.gov, as activity on the Web site picks up just days before the end of the Affordable Care Act's second-ever enrollment period, Obama administration officials reported Wednesday. Traffic to the federal government's health insurance Web site, which is running much more smoothly this year, was up 58 percent Wednesday morning compared to the same time last week, according to Obama administration officials overseeing the health insurance marketplaces. About 275,000 people signed up through the Web site between Jan. 31 and Feb. 6 — the most recent week of data available — making it one of the busiest enrollment weeks in the past two months. (Millman, 2/11)
Reuters: Over 7.75 Million People Are Enrolled In Obamacare Health Plans
More than 7.75 million people have enrolled in private health insurance through the federal website HealthCare.gov, as of Feb. 6, the Obama administration said on Wednesday. The latest figures, which do not reflect enrollment in 13 state-run insurance marketplaces, include 275,676 people who selected plans during the week from Jan. 31 to Feb. 6. (Morgan, 2/11)
Modern Healthcare: ACA Sign-Ups Accelerate As Deadline Looms
HHS' goal for the second open-enrollment period ending Feb. 15 is 9.1 million people who have selected plans and paid premiums. The totals released Wednesday only report the number of people who have selected plans, not the number who have paid their first month's premiums. (Dickson, 2/11)
The Hill: Obamacare Signups Surge In Southern States
Signups for ObamaCare are surging in southern states, with increases of nearly 100 percent in some states compared to last year, federal health officials said Wednesday. Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina and Mississippi have each seen 80 percent more signups compared to last year, Deputy Administrator Andy Slavitt said. (Ferris, 2/11)
The Associated Press: Sunday Deadline Driving Health Law Sign-Ups For 2015
Although enrollment centers haven’t seen the same long lines as last year, volunteers from Austin, Texas, to Columbus, Ohio, report a surge this week, not yet captured in official numbers. And the revamped HealthCare.gov website so far has avoided last year’s technology meltdown. (Alonso-Zaldivar, 2/11)
The Sacramento Bee: Sunday Is The Last Day For Open Enrollment Through Covered California
Covered California is counting on the human penchant for procrastination to add tens of thousands of new enrollees to the ranks of residents who buy health insurance through the virtual marketplace. The state administrator of the federal Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare, will close its second yearly period of open enrollment Sunday at midnight. (Sangree, 2/11)
San Jose Mercury News: Covered California Hoping For Enrollment Surge To Meet Goal
With just days before the midnight Sunday deadline to enroll in health care plans under Covered California, the state's private health care exchange is a little over halfway toward its goal of insuring a half million more residents than last year. (Urton, 2/11)
The Denver Post: Colorado's Uninsured Face Stiffer Penalties In 2015; Deadline Nears
As 2015 open enrollment ends Sunday, Coloradans without health insurance will face significantly higher penalties this year than they did last year. (Draper, 2/11)
Kaiser Health News: Texas Insurance Brokers Play Bigger Obamacare Role
As the health law’s second open enrollment season barrels to a close on Sunday, nearly a million Texans have purchased or applied for health insurance. This time around, insurance brokers are aggressively marketing themselves to shoppers – it’s a big change for the brokers who have had an uneasy relationship with the health law for years. (Feibel, 2/11)
