Fewer Pennsylvanians get health coverage as deadline nears

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Government numbers show that sign-ups for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act are down nationally and in Pennsylvania with days left to enroll.

The state Department of Insurance says signups in Pennsylvania through last week were just over 163,000, while signups at the same point a year ago were 206,000. Saturday is the deadline to sign up for insurance in 2019.

Signups are down even though premiums in Pennsylvania are stable, consumers have more choice and many of the uninsured can still get government subsidies help through Healthcare.gov.

Ultimately, about 400,000 Pennsylvanians signed up for the coverage in 2018, a slight dip from 2017.

Coverage begins Jan. 1. Next year there’s no penalty for being uninsured.