The Department of Health and Human Services
reports that at the end of week two of open enrollment in Obamacare 1.5 million people had applied, and more than 765,000 people had selected plans. HHS
provides full details.
New customers are holding steady at just under 50 percent, while just over 50 percent are people who are currently enrolled. That's important to note—the word is getting out that people currently enrolled need to check in to make sure they're getting a good deal, because there are so many new plans available in so many markets. Re-enrollment ends on December 15 for new plans to take affect on January 1, and those who haven't selected other plans will be automatically enrolled in their old ones.
"The first deadline is just a couple of weeks away on December 15," HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell said. "We're encouraging everyone who is already covered through the Marketplace to come back and shop because there could be savings. And for those who are thinking about getting health coverage, take a look at your options—most consumers qualify for financial help. We expect even more consumers to shop and save during the next two weeks."
Other interesting tidbits: the average call center waiting time dropped to just 8 seconds from over 2 minutes; there have been almost 150,000 calls on the Spanish-language line and more than 153,000 users on CuidadoDeSalud.gov; and more than 2.2 million people have window-shopped on both sites. This volume of visits and calls and sign-ups is significantly higher than the first two weeks in last year, helped by the fact that the website actually works. Given last year's experience of last minute enrollments, the pace of sign-ups this year points to pretty respectable enrollment numbers for this year.
The first deadline for signing up is December 15 for re-enrollees and new customers who want insurance beginning on January 1, 2015. New enrollments can continue until February 15, when open enrollment ends. People who have significant life changes—new jobs or job loss, marriage, divorce—that changes their health insurance status can sign up throughout the year.