13K In SD Got Health Insurance Using Marketplace

SIOUX FALLS, SD -

Federal officials say that 13,104 South Dakotans have chosen health plans through the new insurance marketplace created by the nation's health care law, falling short of expectations. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a report Thursday with enrollment figures that cover most of the open enrollment period that ended March 31. The federal government had projected that 19,000 South Dakota residents would enroll during the six-month period. Data show that 27,147 South Dakotans were found eligible to enroll in a marketplace plan, and 16,243 were eligible to receive financial assistance for those plans. The health care law requires nearly every American to have insurance coverage or pay a tax penalty of either $95 or 1 percent of income, whichever is higher.

© 2014 Associated Press. All rights reserved. Material may not be redistributed.