Hundreds more Delawareans sign up for health insurance

The second month of open enrollment under the federal Affordable Care Act has fared better than the first month when Obamacare first rolled out Oct. 1. 

Health officials now say 431 Delawareans have selected health coverage using the state’s new health insurance exchange, up from a paltry 97 enrollees. However, that number represents only about 1.2 percent of the 35,000 Delawareans officials hope to enroll. 

The new figures released Wednesday show 4,185 applications for Delaware’s exchange, for coverage of 7,650 individuals. About 1,820 individuals were determined eligible for Medicaid, and another 1,670 were eligible to enroll in the exchange with financial assistance.

“Evidence of the technical improvements to Healthcare.gov can be seen in the enrollment numbers,” Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said.

HHS blamed computer glitches and performance issues, largely, for poor numbers at the start of open enrollment.

Nationwide, Sebelius says enrollment in the federal marketplace last month was four times greater compared with October’s numbers. Nearly 365,000 Americans have now selected health coverage, according to HHS. 

For coverage starting Jan. 1, a plan must be selected by Dec. 23. The six-month long open enrollment period ends March 31, 2014.