More than 1.3 million consumers signed up for health insurance through the government-run website healthcare.gov during the sixth week of open enrollment, Dec. 6 through 12.
This brings the total number of consumer plan selections made since the start of the enrollment period on November 1 to 4.17 million.
[Also: Open enrollment numbers greater this year than last, CMS says]
Of the new sign-ups this past week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said 500,000 were new consumers, bringing the grand total of new consumers to 1.5 million since open enrollment began.
More than 1.5 million sought information and guidance through call centers, including spanish speaking representatives and more than 3.5 million turned to healthcare.gov for answers.
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Because of "unprecedented demand and volume of consumers" contacting call centers and visiting healthcare.gov, the deadline to select health coverage for next year starting January 1, has been extended until midnight Pacific time on December 17, CMS said.
Hundreds of thousands selected plans on Dec.14 and 15 alone and around one million consumers left contact information to hold their place in line, according to CMS.
Twitter: @BethJSanborn