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Healthy State tells the stories you need to know to stay well, with a special focus on Florida.We'll bring you the latest fitness trends, new research on preventing and treating disease, and information about how health policy impacts your pocketbook.We report on health using all the tools at our disposal -- video, audio, photos and text -- to bring these stories to life.Healthy State is a project of WUSF Public Media in Tampa and is heard on public radio stations throughout Florida. It also is available online at wusfnews.org.

Affordable Care Act Enrollment Tops 1 Million In First Two Weeks

healthcare.gov

On the day after the election, 100,000 people enrolled in the Affordable Care Act. It was the largest single-day enrollment period up to that point.

It went against some expectations that enrollment would drop after Donald Trump was elected campaigning on a promise to repeal and replace the law.

Instead, enrollment has kept on pace with about 1 million people selecting plans in the first two weeks of the sign-up period.

Trump now says he may keep some popular components of Obamacare intact.

Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell says she's not surprised to hear the conversation switch from rhetoric to reality.

"The reality is that Americans don't want to go back to a world where there are preexisting conditions that can keep you out,” Burwell said. “People don't want to go back to a world where kids can't stay on your plan until 26, or that there are lifetime and annual limits. The conversation now needs to switch from slogans to the actual reality.”  

Burwell says the strong enrollment numbers reflect that people want and need the Affordable Care Act.

She says she's an optimist and believes the next administration will build on the progress that’s been made so far.

If that happens, Burwell says she's fine if Trump gets all the credit for improving the nation's health care system.

“This isn't about one party or another. This isn't about one president or another,” she said. “I couldn't be more pleased if there would be the kinds of improvements that we think could increase access and improve affordability and quality.”

Open enrollment in the Affordable Care Act runs through Jan. 31. For information, visit healthcare.gov or call (800) 318-2596.

Copyright 2016 Health News Florida

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