1.1 million new consumers have bought coverage during open enrollment, CMS data shows
Another 2.9 million renewed their coverage as the deadline for January coverage looms.
Heading into the final days before tomorrow's deadline for Jan. 1 coverage, more than 4 million, consumers have selected plans between Nov. 1, when Open Enrollment began, and Dec. 10, according to figures released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. About 1.1 million of those consumers were new, while 2.9 million renewed their coverage.
Since Dec. 10, sign-up activity has accelerated. This past Monday and Tuesday have been two of the biggest days of any Open Enrollment, with more than 700,000 sign-ups.
The latest CMS report covers the period from Nov. 27 through Dec. 10. As in past years, enrollment weeks are measured Sunday through Saturday. Since Open Enrollment began on a Tuesday this year, the cumulative totals reported in this snapshot reflect two fewer days than last year's Week 6 snapshot. There were over 250,000 more plan selections during the first 40 days of Open Enrollment this year than last year.
Enrollment so far this year exceeds last year's total, CMS said.
[Also: Obamacare enrollment tops 2.1 million with 250,000 new consumers added in last 2 weeks, CMS says]
"Momentum is building," said outgoing Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell in a statement. "As we approach the Dec. 15 deadline for consumers to get coverage that begins Jan. 1, we're seeing hundreds of thousands of consumers each day signing up for coverage they want and need. I encourage anyone who needs health insurance for 2017 to join the millions already signed up and visit HealthCare.gov to check out their options by Dec. 15. Most Marketplace consumers can find plans for less than $75 per month in premiums, and it's easier than ever to shop and compare your options on HealthCare.gov."
Consumers are signing up despite uncertainty over the future of the Affordable Care Act under President-Elect Donald Trump. Trump has named outspoken ACA critic Rep. Tom Price to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and though Trump has said that his administration would like to keep some of the provisions in the ACA, Price's nomination suggests much of the law will in fact be repealed and replaced.
Twitter: @JELagasse
