Federal officials say more than 61,000 Illinois residents signed up for health insurance during the first three months of the troubled HealthCare.gov website.
A Monday report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says 61,111 Illinoisans selected plans through the new insurance marketplace from Oct. 1 to Dec. 28. That number falls about 6,000 applicants short of the Obama administration's original goal of 67,210 Illinoisans by the end of December.
In October, when the website was barely working, 1,370 Illinois residents selected plans. The new figures mean an additional 59,741 people made it through the process after website repairs.
Illinois is relying on the federal website because the Legislature didn't approve a state-run marketplace. Online insurance shopping is a key part of President Barack Obama's health care law.
