MacIver News Service | February 12, 2014
[Washington, D.C.] Just over 1.1 million people signed up for health insurance plans offered under the Affordable Care Act in the month of January, according to newly released data from the federal Department of Health and Human Services. To date, 3.3 million people in total have signed up for Obamacare. The 3.3 million figure is, however, significantly lower than the Administration’s original estimate predicting 7 million enrollees would sign up by March 31st, 2014.The 1.1 million new enrollees include individuals that have not paid their premiums yet.
Over 800,000 individuals between the ages of 18 and 35 are now enrolled in the Obamacare exchanges, up from 489,460 in January. The Obama Administration and other experts believe that in order for Obamacare to function as it was originally designed at least 38% of people enrolled must be young adults. Right now that number sits at less than 25%. This data is important because healthy, young adults are expected to carry most of the financial burden of Obamacare.
According to the HHS numbers, the number of Wisconsinites enrolled is 56,435. Just 20% of the Wisconsinites that have enrolled are age 18-34, while 43% of those enrolled are age 55-64.
In mid-January, the Commissioner of Insurance reported that only half of the 40,752 Wisconsinites who had selected an plan on the federal exchange had actually paid their premium.
See the full report here.