Kansas Lags Behind In Health Enrollments

New federal figures show that Kansans are enrolling more slowly than expected in health insurance plans offered through an online marketplace.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported Tuesday that about 29,300 Kansas residents had chosen health insurance plans through the marketplace by March 1.

The agency had projected that 42,400 Kansans would have enrolled in plans through the marketplace by the end of February. The actual numbers are short of federal projections for the end of January.

But the number of Kansans enrolling through the marketplace grew by 31 percent in February. The figure was about 22,400 at the end of January.

Republicans who control state government are vocal critics of the 2010 federal health care law creating the online marketplace.