FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Nearly 380,000 Texans have selected health insurance plans through the federal marketplace ahead of a January 1 deadline.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday that nationwide about 4 million people selected plans between November 15 and December 15. Individuals have until February 15 to sign up during the second-ever open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act.
Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell says in a news release that the numbers are “an encouraging start.”
The numbers are significantly larger than during the first month of enrollment last year when HealthCare.gov was plagued with technical problems. Then, the nationwide sign-up total was 106,000.
Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the nation. More than 733,000 individuals selected an insurance plan during the first enrollment period.