January 27, 2014
Friday’s announcement by the Department of Health and Human Services that 800,000 more people signed up for insurance exchange plans in January is covered in media outlets almost universally as a hurdle cleared for the Affordable Care Act.  Bloomberg News (1/25, Wayne) reported some of the new enrollees pushed “total enrollment to 3 million as negative perceptions about the program give way to more practical needs.” HHS Secretary Sebelius “touted the January figures in a speech today in Jacksonville, Florida,” while an HHS blog post said more outreach means those numbers are likely to “continue to grow.” One industry analyst said the enrollment was good news for insurers, and “if the pace of sign-ups continues, enrollment should be close to 5 million by the end of March.” The Administration wants about seven million people by then. Sebelius was in Jacksonville on another in a round of “multiple appearances in both Florida and Texas over the past six months.” Neither state operates its own insurance exchange.

Reuters (1/25) reported that the newest enrollment figures suggest the Obama Administration is steering past its bumpy launch of the insurance exchange and could reach its goal of 7 million people by March 31. CMS chief Marilyn Tavenner announced the new total Friday in the HHS blog post. Earlier in the week, the Obama Administration said 6.3 million people also qualified for Medicaid and the CHIP program this month.
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