Fed officials tout health care law’s benefits on 5th anniversary

COLUMBUS — Federal officials are releasing new data for certain Ohio areas showing the number of residents who enrolled in health care coverage under President Barack Obama’s law, including more than 13,000 in the Youngstown area.

More than 234,000 Ohioans picked or renewed health plans in the federally run insurance marketplace during the open enrollment period that ended last month.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services officials said Monday that the figure includes 16,793 consumers in the Akron area; 13,673 consumers in the Youngstown area; 10,496 consumers in the Toledo area; and 8,306 consumers in the Canton area.

The numbers come on the law’s fifth anniversary. Obama signed the Affordable Care Act on March 23, 2010.

Federal officials say because of the law, 5 million Ohioans with a pre-existing health condition can no longer be denied health care coverage.