MNsure Sees Last-Minute Enrollment Spike

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota's health insurance exchange saw a sizable last-minute spike in enrollment ahead of a deadline for coverage that took effect with the new year.

MNsure is releasing its latest enrollment figures Friday. The agency says that by the Dec. 31 deadline, 67,805 Minnesotans had enrolled for insurance under the provisions of the new federal health care law.

That grew considerably from just four days earlier, when MNsure had reported that about 53,000 people signed up. It reflects the last-minute rush to get coverage beginning Jan. 1, with many people delayed from closing the deal because of glitches with the MNsure website and very long waits to its toll-free helpline.

People who missed the Jan. 1 deadline have until Jan. 15 to lock down coverage starting Feb. 1.