Officials: 1,370 in Illinois selected health plans
Federal officials say 1,370 Illinois residents submitted an application and selected a health plan as the troubled HealthCare.gov website limped its way through its first month.
A report released Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says a total of 30,901 people in Illinois have submitted paper or electronic applications on the new insurance marketplace. They were applying for coverage on behalf of 56,636 people — for example, themselves, their spouses and children.
Illinois is relying on the federal website because the state Legislature didn’t approve a state-run marketplace. The online insurance shopping sites are a key part of President Barack Obama’s health care law.
Federal officials have said they hope to get the website working smoothly by the end of this month.