6 Million and Growing!

[Howey]

As Republicans hide their faces in shame, Obamacare signups are growing and growing.

Looks like the Administration was right again.

It seems like ages ago, but it was early November when the first figures on Affordable Care Act enrollment were released – and they weren’t good. In October, the first month of the open-enrollment period, just 106,185 consumers signed up for health insurance through an exchange, far short of projections, and enough to cause Republicans to point, laugh, and mock, noting a variety of sports venues that hold more than 106,185 attendees.

Seven weeks later, conservatives no longer appear to be smiling.

We talked yesterday about December’s preliminary enrollment numbers: 1.1 million consumers who signed up for health care coverage through the federal exchange marketplace. But that total didn’t include state-based exchanges or Medicaid coverage. Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Marilyn Tavenner released some additional details.
The most recent data indicate that more than 2.1 million people have enrolled in a private health insurance plan through the Federal and State-based Marketplaces since October 1. […]

Additionally, 3.9 million Americans learned they’re eligible for coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in October and November. These numbers include new eligibility determinations and some Medicaid and CHIP renewals.

We are encouraged that over 6 million people have been enrolled in Marketplace or Medicaid coverage since October 1, and will work to give millions more Americans the peace of mind that comes with health security in the months ahead.
That’s 6 million U.S. consumers in three months, and for two of those months, as you may have heard once or twice, healthcare.gov wasn’t working especially well.

I have a strong hunch we won’t see a bunch of tweets from GOP lawmakers this afternoon, highlighting stadiums with 6 million seats.

What’s more, these totals don’t include Americans who gained coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s policy that allows young adults to stay on their family’s plan until they turn 26.

In terms of the policy implications, enrollment totals at these levels reinforce the sustainability of the exchange marketplaces. In terms of the political implications, if Republicans think they can spend the next 10 months vowing to take health care benefits away from these millions of consumers, they may want to check with their pollsters about the viability of their message.

Oh, and the right-wing campaign intended to convince the uninsured to stay that way on purpose, just to satisfy the wishes of wealthy conservatives with an ideological axe to grind? Yeah, that doesn’t appear to be working, either.

 

[Star]

As Republicans hide their faces in shame, Obamacare signups are growing and growing.

Looks like the Administration was right again.

What’s more, these totals don’t include Americans who gained coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s policy that allows young adults to stay on their family’s plan until they turn 26.

After a shaky Information Technology start, the numbers are rolling in. Hopefully, the Obamacare website won't have another Target/FedEx like moment.


Check out some of the numbers from an article in the JAMA.

The Commonwealth Fund in New York, NY, released data today showing that from November 2010 to November 2011, 13.7 million young adults aged 19 to 25 years were covered by their parents’ plans, including 6.6 million who may not have been eligible without the provision. Between September 2010 and June 2011, the net number of insured young adults increased by 2.5 million, the report noted. ~ Journal of the American Medical Association
.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Wait. People are signing up for Medicare and Medicaid? Why didn't Obama just expand eligibility, why destroy the private insurance market?

How many of the new "sign ups" were part of the "47MM Uninsured"?

Hmm?

 

[CrusaderFrank]

How many of the "6 million" paid up?

Hmm?

 

[Mr. H.]

This fart has yet to blossom. You have no clue what's in store. I'd say the deep shit will hit the fan by fall 2014. Unless, of course, O'Caca decrees yet more arbitrary modifications.

 

[BDBoop]

Awesome!

 

[asterism]

The accurate count is more like 2 million.

Over 2.1 million have signed up for Obamacare: officials | Reuters

That's people enrolled, not necessarily those that will be actually covered.

When you have to lie to make your point, you've already lost the argument.

 

[norwegen]

People submit to coercion. And government is a very authoritative source of it.

 

[asterism]

Awesome!

There's nothing awesome about it. 2013 was the year that more people lost coverage than gained coverage due entirely to a government program. That's the worst rollout of a government policy yet. Think about it - hundreds of millions were spent, the "most technically savvy administration" ever came into power, and we've got this mess. Government is getting worse, not better.

 

[asterism]

It's really sad that after all the hoopla, all the resources expended, and all the dedication by supposedly the brightest and best this government could offer, the tally is this dismal.

The best Obama could do over 3 months amounts to a slow day on Amazon.

 

[Tank]

They have to sign up or they will be committing a crime

 

[rdean]

Why do Republicans worship failure? Now they want the possibility of Americans having health care to fail. You think they would be satisfied with all their failed policies.