At least 8.5 million uninsured Americans will purchase coverage through the insurance exchanges created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, according to a USA TODAY report.
The report's projection is based on estimates from 19 states set to open insurance exchanges. This projection is higher than the Congressional Budget Office's estimate of 7 million, according to the report.
California alone projects 5.3 million enrollees, according to the report.
"I'm optimistic we'll have millions of people sign up," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told USA TODAY. "We've been working a long time on this."
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