Healthcare.gov sets enrollment record despite repeal threat

400,000 more people bought health plans through the Affordable Care Act’s insurance marketplace in 2016 than 2015, according to the final open enrollment figures released by HHS for coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2017.

Through the extended marketplace deadline of Dec. 19, a record 6.4 million people selected a health plan. 2 million of them were new customers. More than 4.3 million returning customers either picked a new plan or “actively” renewed it, while those whose coverage automatically renewed aren’t included in the figures.

“With a record 6.4 million consumers selecting plans for January 1, Americans are once again proving that Marketplace coverage is vital to them and their families,” said HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell.  “Now, we want uninsured Americans who have not yet signed up to know they have not missed their chance to get covered. Open Enrollment for 2017 continues through January 31st.”

Enrollment had initially spiked after the unexpected presidential election victory of Donald Trump, who has promised to repeal the ACA. As in past open enrollment periods, sign-ups rose sharply as the deadline for Jan. 1 coverage approached. Dec. 15, the original deadline day, was the biggest single enrollment day ever, with 670,000 people selecting a plan, beating the previous record of 600,000 set on the same day in 2015.

The figures only cover customers in states which rely on the federal Healthcare.gov site, not those in states with their own exchanges. The record enrollment is in spite of the highest year-to-year premium increase in the marketplace’s short history, with benchmark premiums on the federally-facilitated marketplace going up by an average of 25 percent.

Before open enrollment began, HHS had projected 13.8 million people would buy insurance plans off the exchanges for 2017. Customers can still do so through Jan. 31, with coverage beginning on either Feb. 1 or March 1.