244,000 Ohioans sign up for Obamacare

COLUMBUS (AP) — Nearly 244,000 Ohioans signed up for private insurance or renewed coverage through the federal marketplace created by President Barack Obama’s health law.

Federal officials announced the latest enrollment figures Thursday. The third open enrollment period under the law ended January 31.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says fewer than 87,000 consumers in the Cleveland-Akron area selected or were automatically enrolled in a plan. About 49,000 consumers in the Cincinnati area were enrolled in a plan, while more than 48,000 consumers in the Columbus area were in a plan.

About 12.7 million people nationwide have signed up for insurance or renewed coverage for 2016. That number falls right in the middle of the administration’s projection of 11 million to 14 million initial enrollments through HealthCare.gov and state-run counterparts.