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'Obamacare' could see 7m healthcare enrolments 'Obamacare' hits 7m healthcare enrolments
(about 4 hours later)
President Barack Obama's healthcare programme is on track to meet its goal of seven million health insurance enrolments, the White House has said. Just over seven million people signed up for health insurance through President Barack Obama's healthcare programme, the White House has said.
Its online insurance markets saw a surge of interest on Monday, as a midnight deadline to buy coverage and avoid a penalty next year neared. Spokesman Jay Carney said 200,000 people enrolled through a federally-run website on Monday alone.
The seven million figure surpasses the White House's initial goal.
Online insurance markets saw a surge of interest on Monday, as a midnight deadline to buy coverage and avoid a penalty next year neared.
And long queues were seen at clinics and hospitals enrolling new customers.And long queues were seen at clinics and hospitals enrolling new customers.
'Remarkable surge'
Mr Obama will speak about the programme at 16:15 local time (20:15 GMT).
Mr Carney said a "remarkable surge" in the past few days had pushed the enrolment figure to 7,041,000 as of midnight on Monday.
The White House spokesman said that figure did not include sign-ups from state-run marketplace websites on Monday nor those granted a deadline extension because of technical difficulties.
Despite the apparent success, Republicans are not expected to relent in their united opposition to the law.Despite the apparent success, Republicans are not expected to relent in their united opposition to the law.
Conservatives see it as an inappropriate government intrusion into the healthcare industry and as an affront to personal liberty.Conservatives see it as an inappropriate government intrusion into the healthcare industry and as an affront to personal liberty.
The law also remains controversial among the American public, as some people have seen their insurance costs rise or their old plans cancelled, and others object to having to purchase insurance at all.The law also remains controversial among the American public, as some people have seen their insurance costs rise or their old plans cancelled, and others object to having to purchase insurance at all.
The Republicans hope to tap into voter discontent with the law in November's midterm elections.The Republicans hope to tap into voter discontent with the law in November's midterm elections.
Mr Obama is due to speak about the sign-up figures at 16:15 local time (20:15 GMT).
The 2010 law, known officially as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and by the shorthand "Obamacare", is intended to extend health insurance to the roughly 48 million Americans who do not receive it through their employers, the government, or a privately purchased plan.The 2010 law, known officially as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and by the shorthand "Obamacare", is intended to extend health insurance to the roughly 48 million Americans who do not receive it through their employers, the government, or a privately purchased plan.
It also aims to slow the growth in the cost of healthcare through various means and requires private plans to meet a certain level of coverage.It also aims to slow the growth in the cost of healthcare through various means and requires private plans to meet a certain level of coverage.
The federal Healthcare.gov and similar marketplace websites run by some states are a key element of the Affordable Care Act, providing a clearing-house for people to purchase health insurance for themselves and their families, often with generous subsidies. The federal Healthcare.gov and similar marketplace websites run by some states are a key element of the law, providing a clearing-house for people to purchase health insurance for themselves and their families, often with generous subsidies.
In addition to the estimated seven million people signed up for private plans through the marketplaces, between 4.7-6.5 million have gained insurance through an expansion of government-run health programmes for the poor, and 2.5-3.1 million men and women under age 26 have signed up for newly available coverage on their parents' insurance plans, according to tracking website acasignups.net. Tax penalties ahead
In addition to the more than seven million people signed up for private plans through the marketplaces, between 4.7-6.5 million have gained insurance through an expansion of government-run health programmes for the poor, and 2.5-3.1 million men and women under age 26 have signed up for newly available coverage on their parents' insurance plans, according to tracking website acasignups.net.
From now, most people who are not covered by some form of health insurance will face a tax penalty next year.From now, most people who are not covered by some form of health insurance will face a tax penalty next year.
Grace period
The initial launch of the marketplace websites last autumn was dogged by crashes and glitches.
Although the federal website was eventually repaired for the most part, it went down twice on Monday because of an unspecified "technical problem" health officials said was unrelated to the volume of visitors on the site.
Final enrolment figures for 2014 will not be available for some time as the Obama administration has allowed those who had technical difficulties to continue to sign-up. Millions could be eligible for such extensions.Final enrolment figures for 2014 will not be available for some time as the Obama administration has allowed those who had technical difficulties to continue to sign-up. Millions could be eligible for such extensions.
And it is unclear yet how many people who have enrolled in insurance through the websites have paid their premiums - a necessary step before the coverage can begin.And it is unclear yet how many people who have enrolled in insurance through the websites have paid their premiums - a necessary step before the coverage can begin.
Healthcare.gov, the federally-run site, relaunched on Tuesday for special enrolment and for people who had been blocked from signing up because of technical problems. Some state-run sites were also giving residents grace periods.Healthcare.gov, the federally-run site, relaunched on Tuesday for special enrolment and for people who had been blocked from signing up because of technical problems. Some state-run sites were also giving residents grace periods.
During the final push, the Obama administration made a special effort to get younger Americans, who are crucial to the law's success, to sign up. Celebrities who are supporters of Mr Obama tweeted about the programme and Vice-President Joe Biden joined the Rachel Ray chat show on Monday to talk about healthcare.During the final push, the Obama administration made a special effort to get younger Americans, who are crucial to the law's success, to sign up. Celebrities who are supporters of Mr Obama tweeted about the programme and Vice-President Joe Biden joined the Rachel Ray chat show on Monday to talk about healthcare.