Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Mathew Burwell told the Los Angeles Times this week that her agency is reconsidering its 13-million policyholder goal for enrollment in the second year of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

In the first year, after drop-outs the enrollment stands at 7.3 million, meaning that almost 6 million more would have to enroll in the second year, along with the present policyholders continuing their coverage, to reach 13 million.

Ms. Burwell told the newspaper that federal officials are using analytics and consulting with insurance industry officials and market analysts to determine a possible new enrollment goal. She gave no indication of when the new goal would be announced.

Open enrollment commences Nov. 15.