Health care target: 500,000 signups by Oct. 31
Before glitches, administration foresaw nearly 500,000 health care signups in the first month
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, right, meets with Cincinnati State Technical and Community College President O'dell M. Owens, after they participated in a panel discussion on the federal health care overhaul, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013, at the college, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Administration officials projected nearly 500,000 people would sign up just this month in the new health insurance markets. That was before the markets opened to a cascade of computer problems.
If the glitches persist and frustrated consumers give up trying, that initial goal could slip out of reach.
An internal memo from the Health and Human Services Department lists monthly enrollment targets for 50 states and Washington, D.C., through March 31. Dated Sept. 5, the memo was obtained by The Associated Press.
Officials estimated that 494,620 people would sign up for health insurance by Oct. 31. The memo said that target reflects a modest start for the markets.
With 15 days to go this month, the federal government has yet to release enrollment numbers for the health care overhaul.
