FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell said Kentucky’s switch to the federal marketplace could have confused some consumers during the first month of open enrollment.
Just over 66,000 Kentuckians have signed up for health insurance in the federal marketplace through Dec. 19, the deadline to ensure coverage by Jan. 1. Open enrollment continues through Jan. 31. The numbers are down from the same time period in 2014, when more than 84,000 Kentuckians enrolled in a health insurance plan.
This is the first year Kentuckians have used the federal marketplace to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Previously, Kentuckians used a state-based system called kynect. Republican Gov. Matt Bevin ended kynect when he took office last year.
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This story has been corrected. An earlier version said the number of Kentuckians enrolling for health insurance was higher because it did not include automatic enrollments. Kentucky has no automatic enrollments since it is the state’s first year on the federal exchange.
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