Roughly 6.4 million consumers have already signed up for health insurance plans through HealthCare.gov in the current enrollment period, an increase of 400,000 plan selections compared to this time last year.
Dec. 15, the original deadline for Jan. 1 coverage, was the biggest day ever of any open-enrollment period with 670,000 plan selections, breaking the Dec. 15, 2015, record of 600,000. To meet high demand, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services extended the deadline for Jan. 1 coverage by two business days.
“With a record 6.4 million consumers selecting plans for Jan. 1, Americans are once again proving that Marketplace coverage is vital to them and their families,” said Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell. “Now, we want uninsured Americans who have not yet signed up to know they have not missed their chance to get covered. Open enrollment for 2017 continues through January 31. With most Marketplace consumers able to find coverage for less than $75 per month in premiums, uninsured Americans should join the millions of Americans who’ve already gone to HealthCare.gov to check out their options.”
Total plan selections from Nov. 1 through the extended deadline of Dec. 19 include 2.05 million new consumers and 4.31 million returning consumers who renewed their coverage. Consumers whose coverage automatically renewed on Jan. 1 are not yet included in these totals.
Later, during the open enrollment period, HHS will produce more detailed reports of plan selections, including in states using the HealthCare.gov platform and in state-based marketplaces using their own enrollment platforms.