Enrollments edge higher in January, HHS numbers reveal

In January alone, there was a more than 50 percent uptick in the number of people who secured insurance benefits through the exchanges, new government data suggests.

Enrollment in the federal and state health insurance marketplaces rose 53 percent in the first month of the year when compared with the prior reporting period, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This means that as of Feb. 1, approximately 3.3 million people have signed up for coverage in the exchanges.

Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of HHS, indicated that while the Affordable Care Act has had challenges, people are increasingly taking advantage of the health law.

"These encouraging trends show that more Americans are enrolling every day, and finding quality, affordable coverage in the marketplace," said Sebelius. "There is still plenty of time for you and your family to sign up in a private plan of your choice, so visit HealthCare.gov to learn more and sign up. Open enrollment ends March 31."

Roughly halfway through the first quarter of 2014, the uninsured rate has dropped to 16 percent, according to recent polling data released by Gallup.