WASHINGTON — New data shows that just over 100,000 people picked health plans in the first month of open enrollment through the state and federal insurance marketplaces established by the Affordable Care Act, a figure far lower than the Obama administration initially estimated would sign up during that period.
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Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius disclosed the much-anticipated numbers during a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, after House Republicans spent the morning grilling the White House chief technology officer, Todd Park, and other administration officials about how the HealthCare.gov website went so awry, and what is being done to fix it.
The White House has spent weeks trying to lower expectations about the enrollment figures, which have set off a pitched political battle among supporters and critics of the health overhaul, each seeking political advantage in the numbers. One point of contention is around the way the Obama administration defines who, precisely, is enrolled.
The administration counts new enrollees as those who have “selected a marketplace plan.”
In explaining the relatively low enrollment figures, administration officials cite problems with the web site, which have clearly prevented people from signing up.
[h=4]Connect With Us on Twitter[/h]Follow @NYTNational for breaking news and headlines.
Twitter List: Reporters and Editors
Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius disclosed the much-anticipated numbers during a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, after House Republicans spent the morning grilling the White House chief technology officer, Todd Park, and other administration officials about how the HealthCare.gov website went so awry, and what is being done to fix it.
The White House has spent weeks trying to lower expectations about the enrollment figures, which have set off a pitched political battle among supporters and critics of the health overhaul, each seeking political advantage in the numbers. One point of contention is around the way the Obama administration defines who, precisely, is enrolled.
The administration counts new enrollees as those who have “selected a marketplace plan.”
In explaining the relatively low enrollment figures, administration officials cite problems with the web site, which have clearly prevented people from signing up.