Minn. Private Insurance Signups Lag Other States

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota is in the middle of the pack in signups so far for private insurance among the 14 states operating health exchanges.

The Obama administration released new enrollment statistics through Nov. 30 under the federal health overhaul. MNsure, Minnesota's exchange, released its figures last week, but the numbers released Wednesday allow comparisons between Minnesota's efforts so far and those of other state-based exchanges.

Eight exchange states signed up more for private insurance than Minnesota's 4,478 people. Three are larger than Minnesota, but five smaller states also did better.

Minnesota has signed up people for public insurance at a faster pace but experts say private insurance enrollees are needed to make the federal health care law successful. MNsure officials say they expect private insurance signups to hasten this month.