Enrollment in ACA remains strong

The second week of open enrollment for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) attracted more than 303,000 customers, according to a new report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Nearly half, 49%, of the enrollees were new customers, while the others renewed 2014 policies, the report noted.

The first deadline is just a couple of weeks away on December 15, HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell noted.

"We're encouraging everyone who is already covered through the Marketplace to come back and shop because there could be savings," she said in a statement. "And for those who are thinking about getting health coverage, take a look at your options -- most consumers qualify for financial help."

There was a drop in the number of people applying for eligibility determinations, and calling the phone center of HealthCare.gov, which serves 37 states, officials said. The decreases came during a week, November 22 through last Friday, which included the Thanksgiving holiday.

Some 765,135 people signed up in the first two weeks of the open-enrollment season. The data released December 3 do not include sign-up or traffic data from the 14 exchanges being run by individual states and the District of Columbia.

Consumers can shop and sign up for health coverage between now and February 15, 2015. For coverage to start on January 1, 2015, consumers must enroll in a plan by December 15.