More than 6 million Americans signed up for Health Insurance Marketplace plans for 2017, despite the likelihood that it will be significantly altered or repealed by the new presidential administration.
The final days of Open Enrollment saw record numbers of people sign up for 2017 healthcare coverage under Obamacare, which the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is calling proof that the law is popular despite the incoming administration's plans to change it.
More than 700,000 people signed up on December 12 and December 13, CMS reported. December 15, the original deadline for January 1, 2017 coverage, was the busiest day of any Open Enrollment to date, with 670,000 plan selections, breaking last year’s December 15 record of 600,000.
To meet high demand, CMS extended the deadline for January 1 coverage by two business days.
"Through the extended deadline for January 1, 2017 coverage, Americans are demonstrating clear demand for quality, affordable coverage," CMS stated.
As of December 19, 6.4 million Americans had signed up for Health Insurance Marketplace plans through HealthCare.gov, an increase of 400,000 plan selections compared to last year at this time, CMS stated.
By the time enrollment closed, there more than 2 million new enrollees and 4.3 million returning consumers had actively renewed their coverage or 2017. The high numbers indicate that Americans still have a "strong demand for quality, affordable coverage," CMS stated.
GOP's Timetable For Getting Repeal To Trump May Be Ambitious
The number of new enrollees and returning customers—even in the face of possible major changes to the law—may bolster supporters who are mobilizing to save Obamacare from cutbacks or elimination.
Although Congress may try, "I don't think they're going to repeal the Affordable Care Act," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), in a recent CNN report.
One challenge for the GOP is many voters like some aspects of Obamacare, and keeping some features while cutting others, which President-elect Trump has said he supports, might be very difficult politically, she added.
Gregory A. Freeman is a contributing writer for HealthLeaders.