White House Press Secretary Jay Carney has criticized a report from the House Energy and Commerce Committee stating that only 67 percent of federal exchange enrollees had paid their first premiums by April 15.
Earlier this week, the committee members released data provided by health insurers selling plans through the federally facilitated marketplace under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. People who sign up for coverage through the federal and state exchanges must make their first premium payments to officially complete the enrollment process.
"On April 17, 2014, President Obama declared the success of his law, claiming that 8 million Americans had signed up for health insurance, but data from the insurance providers reveals that the president's figure is largely misleading," the Republican committee members wrote in a news release. "As of April 15, 2014, insurers informed the committee that only 2.45 million had paid their first month’s premium for coverage obtained through the federally facilitated marketplace."
During a White House press briefing yesterday, Mr. Carney said the committee left out about half of the health insurers offering plans through HealthCare.gov — the report includes 160 insurers, while the total participating in the federal marketplace comes to more than 300. Additionally, he said the data doesn't account for those who made their first premium payments after mid-April and doesn't match public statements from insurance companies that have reported 80 to 90 percent of enrollees have paid their first premiums.
Overall, Mr. Carney said the report is "partial information packaged in a way to try to undermine what must be the pressing reality to those who want to repeal the [PPACA]."
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