ACA enrollment continues to increase in Virginia

Jan. 11--Virginians continue to pick up health care plans through the state's Marketplace even as Congress is moving quickly to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, according to numbers released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

More than 74,400 people in a local health care market that includes Norfolk, Portsmouth and Newport News purchased health insurance under the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare, the department reported.

Since open enrollment began Nov. 1, roughly 8.8 million people nationwide have signed up for new or continued coverage, the department said.

"With 8.8 million Americans signed up for coverage through HealthCare.gov, more than last year at this time, it is clear that Americans want and need this vital coverage," said U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell.

ACA created state Marketplaces which offer health care plans nationwide. A signature project of President Barack Obama, it has come to be known as "Obamacare."

President-elect Donald Trump said this week he would like to see Obamacare repealed and swiftly replaced. Congressional Republicans have brought forth a resolution to begin the repeal process, but have not offered any proposals on an alternative.

ACA enrollment continues to increase in several states, including Virginia, which had 399,106 people sign up during the open enrollment period that began in November, a recent enrollment report from the Department of Health and Human Services shows.

The open enrollment period continues until Jan. 31. Those who sign up by Jan. 15 have plans that begin by Feb. 1. Those who enroll by Jan. 31 have plans that begin March 1.

For more information, call the ACA help and registration line at 1-800-318-2596.

Canty can be reached by phone at 757-247-4832.

Virginia Marketplace enrollment by the numbers:

216,381 female and 181,549 male;

46,136 children, 113,333 adults age 18-34, 139,349 adults age 35-54, and 99,112 older Virginians;

54,684 Asians, 38,764 African-Americans, 27,821 Latinos, and 166,264 Caucasians;

52,273 rural Virginians;

85,833 new and 312,097 returning consumers.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

___

(c)2017 the Daily Press (Newport News, Va.)

Visit the Daily Press (Newport News, Va.) at www.dailypress.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.