News Feature | February 2, 2015

Surge In Open Enrollment As Sign-Up Period Nears Conclusion

Christine Kern

By Christine Kern, contributing writer

HHS Closes ‘No Hospital’ Loophole In Some Insurance Plans

HealthCare.gov Surpasses 7.1 Million Enrollments

As the end of the 2015 open enrollment period for Obamacare approaches, there has been a surge in sign-ups with more than 400,000 individuals enrolling through HealthCare.gov through mid-January. That sure brings the total enrollments to more than 7.15 million people, according to data released by HHS.

“With just four weeks before the February 15 deadline and the end of Open Enrollment, more than 7.1 million consumers are counting on the Marketplace for affordable health coverage,” HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell said in the press release.

“Last week, just before the deadline for February 1 coverage, approximately 400,000 people across the country selected a plan that worked for their family. Time is running out. If you don’t have health coverage, visit HealthCare.gov or contact the Marketplace call center to learn about your options and the financial help that is available.”

While there is no hard data tracking enrollments across all exchanges, the enrollment tracking site ACASignups.net was estimating total national enrollment now stands at 9.5 million, after factoring in the new HealthCare.gov tally. The site has a positive track record for making accurate predictions about enrollment figures, according to CNBC.

According to his analysis, site operator Charles Gaba reports 33 states have already met or surpassed 2015 enrollment targets set by either HHS or the states running their own insurance marketplaces. The figures suggest HealthCare.gov is on track to meet the target enrollment figure of 9.1 million individuals set by the Obama Administration. The HHS data does not include states that have established their own exchanges, like New York and California.

Florida leads the federal marketplace states, with more than 1.2 million people enrolled, while Texas has nearly 920,000, according to HHS data.

The administration is expecting a surge near the Feb. 15 sign-up deadline.