Bad news for Republicans: Obamacare enrollments continue to rise, and rise more quickly each week:
"Just about 1.2 million people have gained health coverage through Obamacare, according to new federal data released Wednesday morning.
Approximately 365,000 of those people have purchased private insurance and 803,000 have been determined to be eligible for the public Medicaid program."
The federal exchange in particular has accelerated. The state exchanges -- where enrollment had been faster at the outset -- have not grown as quickly. According to Sarah Kliff, this "suggests a bit of an evening out between the local and national health exchanges."
Enrollments still lag predictions from before the problematic October 1 launch of the exchanges. However, they are increasing at a pace that wouldn't have been predicted on October 15 or November 15.
Elsewhere in Obamacare news, JoAnn Smith, a 60-year-old Florida woman, is making headlines as the latest Obamacare success story. Smith told NBC News that she "just instantly burst into tears" when she was able yesterday to sign up for a $3.19 a month health insurance policy through Obamacare.
Smith described the low-cost of her federally-subsidized plan as "totally mind-blowing" and praised the Obamacare call center agent who assisted her sign-up as "the most loveliest of helpers."
Smith previously had been uninsured, as her employer does not offer coverage to its employees.
"They took a vote at the company and people wanted more money in their pockets," Smith was reported as saying. "I have had four paycuts in one year."
Smith's new, highly affordable Obamacare policy will also cover her unemployed husband Eric, age 56.
