Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Denver news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Des Moines news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Minneapolis-St. Paul news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Tampa Bay news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Charlotte news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
Photo: AP file
Roughly 8.8 million people signed up for Affordable Care Act coverage through HealthCare.gov during this year's open enrollment period, the administration said today. That's close to the number that some experts saw as a best-case scenario, and is only a little bit shy of last year's total of 9.2 million.
The bottom line: This is a good number. A lot of factors were working against ACA enrollment this year — including a shorter sign-up window and cuts to outreach programs. Falling a lot shorter of last year's totals would not have been surprising. But there are more challenges still to come.