ACA Exchanges Gained More Young Adults in January

Obamacare health plans enrolled 3.3 million people through January, with young adult participants increasing 65% from a month earlier, the U.S. government said.


(Bloomberg) — Obamacare health plans enrolled 3.3 million people through January, with young adult participants increasing 65% from a month earlier, the U.S. government said.

Private health plans under the Affordable Care Act enrolled 807,515 people ages 18 to 34 as of Jan. 31, an increase of 318,055 since December, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said today in a report. The age group made up about 25% of those who had signed up for health coverage as of Jan. 31, the report showed.

The Obama administration has focused its outreach efforts on young Americans, hoping to reduce the proportion of sick people enrolled in health exchange plans. Television ads featuring former basketball star Magic Johnson are airing during National Basketball Association games, and celebrities including Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine have been recruited to promote the law.

“These encouraging trends show that more Americans are enrolling every day, and finding quality, affordable coverage in the marketplace,” Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement.

California continues to lead the nation in enrollment, with 728,086 people selecting a plan by the end of January. The report didn’t include information on how many people have paid their first month’s premium, the final step required to complete enrollment.