The Obama administration is reconsidering its enrollment target for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act exchanges next year, HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell told reporters Wednesday, according to a Los Angeles Times report.
The Congressional Budget Office has projected 13 million people will be covered through PPACA exchange plans in their second year, including new enrollees and those who remain in the marketplace after signing up in the first year, according to the report. However, Ms. Burwell said federal officials are using analytics and consulting with insurance industry officials and market analysts to determine a possible new enrollment goal. She did not indicate when the revised target will be announced, according to the report.
Last week, CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner told the House Oversight Committee 7.3 million people had officially enrolled in exchange plans as of mid-August — 700,000 less than the enrollment number federal officials initially released this spring. Still, in their first year, the PPACA exchanges exceed CBO projections of 6 million. CMS has indicated the 8 million enrollees reported earlier this year may have included duplicate sign-ups.