50 percent more Pennsylvanians got 2015 coverage, feds say

HARRISBURG (AP) — Federal officials say more than 472,000 Pennsylvanians enrolled or re-enrolled in insurance plans for 2015 sold through the marketplace created by the 2010 federal health care law.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said March 10 the statistic covers the period through the Feb. 15 deadline to enroll for 2015 coverage, although some finalized their paperwork after that.

That's about 50 percent more than the 317,000 Pennsylvanians who signed up for 2014 coverage, although not everybody kept the plan all year.

The report says 41 percent of the more than 472,000 are considered new enrollees, while the rest had signed up for plans that they kept through 2014. The department also says four in five who are enrolled qualified for a tax credit to help cover the cost.