SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - State officials in California say more than 1.5 million people have purchased health insurance through a taxpayer funded marketplace.
That's a 1.6% increase over last year's enrollment. It's the first increase after three years of decline.
The increase comes after state lawmakers passed a law requiring people without health insurance to pay a tax.
State officials also announced a special enrollment period will begin Wednesday and run through April 30.
To be eligible, people must check a box on a form that says they did not know about the new tax for not having health insurance.
Visit the Covered California website for more information.
