Gov't report: More than 12M signed up for 'Obamacare'

WASHINGTON (AP) - The government said more than 12 million people have signed up for coverage this year under former President Barack Obama's health care law, even as the Republican-led Congress debates its repeal.

The official national figure of 12.2 million does not include an additional 765,000 people signed up under an option in the Obama-era law called the Basic Health Plan, which is used by two states, New York and Minnesota.

Traditionally, that figure has been reported separately because of differences in the type of health plan provided. However, counting those enrollees as well, sign-ups approach 13 million people.

"This report is a reminder that while there's a big debate in Washington about the future of the Affordable Care Act, the law remains in place for now and is covering millions of people," said Larry Levitt of the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. The report was issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which also administers the ACA's insurance markets.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Paul Ryan was stressing that President Donald Trump helped congressional Republicans write their beleaguered health care bill. His comments came as GOP leaders struggled to stem defections from conservatives and moderates just a week before he hopes to push the measure through the House, and days after congressional budget analysts said it would lead to 24 million more uninsured people in a decade.

In the Senate, a senior Republican said even if the health bill passes the House, "it wouldn't pass the Senate." On a call with state reporters, Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said his party has to act, but he's concerned middle-aged and older adults will have to pay more under the House bill.

House GOP leaders met with Senate counterparts recently and "they got a clear message from Senate Republicans that there had to be changes," Grassley said.

The GOP bill - the American Health Care Act- would repeal major elements of Obama's law, cap future federal spending on Medicaid for low-income people, and reverse tax increases on wealthy Americans used to finance coverage expansion.

Conservatives said the bill is an inadequately weak repeal of "Obamacare." Party moderates said it will push too many constituents off coverage, including Obama's expansion of Medicaid for more low-earning people and others who've bought insurance - often with federal subsidies - on government-run online marketplaces.

The latest government numbers on sign-ups fell short of the Obama administration's target of 13.8 million for 2017. Moreover, they represent initial enrollment, and there's usually significant attrition over the course of a year. Nonetheless, experts said the report undercuts Republican assertions that the health law's insurance markets are teetering on the verge of collapse.

The market "remains fairly stable in 2017 compared to previous years," Caroline Pearson of the consulting firm Avalere Health said.

The report also underscored the importance of the ACA's financial assistance, a combination of tax credits to help pay premiums and reduced cost sharing for people with low incomes.