That represents an increase of 1.1 million people, or 9 percent, over the number who signed up in the last open enrollment season. If enrollment increases as the Obama administration predicts, it would suggest that the marketplace is steadier than its critics contend. Insurers say they have not seen a big influx of “healthier consumers,” as officials predicted last year. And the administration expects enrollment to dip further, to 10 million at the end of this year, in keeping with a prediction Ms. Burwell made in October 2015. Tennessee has approved rate increases averaging 62 percent for BlueCross BlueShield, 46 percent for Cigna and 44 percent for Humana.

Source: New York Times October 19, 2016 18:31 UTC