Enrollment in California’s Obamacare marketplace is surging, officials said Thursday, indicating a growing interest in health insurance under the new law in the most populous state in the country.
More than 53,500 people enrolled in Covered California in the last three days, topping the total number of enrollments in October by nearly 60 percent.
“We’re pleased with the consumer response to getting affordable health insurance coverage, and our staff is working at top speed to answer questions and process all the applications, so Californians can enjoy benefits beginning Jan. 1, 2014,” said Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee in a statement. “Because of the extremely high interest, we want consumers to use our online tools for self-enrollment or visit a Certified Insurance Agent or their local Certified Enrollment Counselor.”
The pace of enrollment in the state has picked up as well, doubling the rate officials saw in early December.
The deadline to sign up for coverage that starts on Jan. 1 is Dec. 23. Health insurance companies agreed on Wednesday to give people who have purchased a health plan until Jan. 10 to pay their first premium for coverage that starts on Jan. 1.
