WASHINGTON (AP) The second sign-up season under President Barack Obama's health care law is off to a good start but has a way to go to make it a success, administration officials said Tuesday. <\/p>\n
Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell said 1.9 million new customers have picked a plan as of Dec. 19 through the federal insurance market that serves 37 states. Another 4.5 million have renewed existing coverage, with most automatically re-enrolled. <\/p>\n
The numbers don't include states running their own insurance exchanges, including California and New York. The administration will release a full 50-state report next week, Burwell said. <\/p>\n
\"We still have a lot of work to do,\" she said. \"But this is an encouraging start.\" <\/p>\n
At her year-end news conference, Burwell dodged questions about a Supreme Court case seen as the most serious threat left to Obama's law. The case, King v. Burwell, will be argued in early March. <\/p>\n
The health care law provides taxpayer-subsidized private insurance to people who don't have access to coverage through their jobs. <\/p>\n
Plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case argue that the law, as written, only allows subsidies in states that have established their own insurance markets. Supporters of the law say that while the text may be confusing, Congress clearly intended to subsidize coverage in all 50 states. <\/p>\n
Burwell wouldn't outline any contingency plans in the event the court rules against the administration. <\/p>\n
\"We believe that our position is the position that is correct and accurate,\" she said. <\/p>\n
More than 8 in 10 customers in the insurance markets receive subsidies. Without them millions would be unable to afford their premiums. If the court's ruling goes against the administration, it's unclear if there would be a grace period while officials pursue a legislative fix or other solutions. <\/p>\n
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Officials cite progress on health care enrollment<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" WASHINGTON (AP) The second sign-up season under President Barack Obama's health care law is off to a good start but has a way to go to make it a success, administration officials said Tuesday. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Continue reading