The government reported 1.1 million sign-ups for Obamacare in January, bringing the total to 3.3 million since the launch of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces in October, short of the 4.4 million projected. Of the 3.3 million total, California has contributed a whopping 728,000, far outstripping any other state.
Of the 3.3 million enrollees, some 82 percent have qualified for subsidies. The government also reported that the percentage of 18-to-34-year-old enrollees in January rose to 27 percent, a 3-percentage-point uptick from October to December.
Some 62 percent of the enrollees opted for the Silver Plan, which offers lower deductibles and qualifies low-income earners for help with their out-of-pocket expenses.
Speculation abounds that the Obama administration will extend the March 31 sign-up deadline to reach its goal of 7 million subscribers, which it is currently not on track to reach.