WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said Friday that public exchange sign-ups are surging now that the government's website is working better for consumers.
A total of more than 1 million people have enrolled in plans through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) exchanges since Oct. 1, when the exchange open enrollment period began, Obama said at his end-of-the-year press conference.
The number of people who have picked plans is up from 365,000 Nov. 30, Obama said.
"That is a big deal," Obama said of getting coverage for uninsured people. "That's why I ran for this office."
Separately, officials said 3.9 million people have qualified for government health coverage through the PPACA Medicaid expansion provision.
Consumers who want coverage to start Jan. 1 apparently will have at least until Dec. 23 to pick plans and until Jan. 10 to pay for plans, due to a combination of Obama administration moves, decisions by state-based exchange managers, and voluntary decisions by health insurers.
