California Short 400K Of Health Insurance Sign-Up Goal
SACRAMENTO (AP) — California is falling short of its goal to sign up 1.7 million people for private insurance in the second year of the federal health expansion.
Sunday is the open enrollment deadline. The state said Thursday that only about 1.3 million people, 400,000 fewer than the goal, have either signed up for new coverage or started renewing coverage.
Missing the enrollment goal may reflect badly on Covered California, which beat projections the first year, but won't affect insurance premiums.
Executive Director Peter Lee says the state is hoping for a late surge. He says if the state doesn't reach its goal, California remains a huge marketplace for insurers.
People who start to enroll or make an appointment by the deadline will have until Feb. 20 to finish.
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