This handout photo provided by the Brookings Institution, and taken on June 25, 2013, shows Health and Human Services Director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight Gary Cohen speaking at the Institution in Washington. Health insurance sign-ups under President Barack Obama’s law have skewed toward an older, costlier crowd. "We think that more and more young people are going to sign up as time goes by," said Cohen. (AP Photo/Brookings Institution, Paul Morigi)
January 13, 2014 - 1:01 PM
WASHINGTON - It's an older, costlier crowd that's signing up for health insurance under President Barack Obama's law.
At least that's how it looks for now.
Administration officials released age and gender breakdowns on Monday for more than 2 million Americans who had enrolled for government-subsidized private insurance by the end of December.
Adults from 55-64 were 33 per cent of the total. Medicare starts at 65.
Young adults from 18-34 were only 24 per cent. Not a bad start, say independent experts, but it should be more like 40 per cent to help control premiums.
Officials say they expect a surge of younger people toward the end of open enrolment March 31.
Women were 54 per cent of those signing up.
Of the total so far, nearly four out of five have gotten financial help.
News from © The Associated Press, 2014