Over 12m sign up for ‘Obamacare’

washington — More than 12.2 million people have signed up for coverage nationwide this year under the Obama-era health care law even with the uncertainty created by President Donald Trump’s vow to repeal and replace it.

A count by AP shows that many consumers returned to the program despite its problems. Aside from the political turmoil, those difficulties include a spike in premiums, rising deductibles and dwindling choice of insurers.

Although initial enrollment is about 4 per cent lower than last year, the sizable number of signups illustrates the risk Republicans face as they begin moving to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and put in its place a yet-to-bedefined conservative approach.

AP’s analysis showed that a clear majority of those enrolled — nearly 64 per cent — live in states that Trump carried in November.

“If they are going to replace it, it had better be as good or better than what is there, and if it’s not I think it’s going to cost them,” said John Chipman, a drummer from Austin, Texas, who’s also covering his wife and their two children.

This year the family scaled back from a “silver” plan to “bronze” to avoid a big premium increase. But without the health law, Chipman says he and his wife would probably be turned down for health insurance because of pre-existing medical conditions. —AP