• Obamacare Surprise: Strong Showing as Nearly 9 Million Sign Up Associated Press by Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar — In a remarkably strong show of consumer demand, nearly 9 million people signed up for Obamacare next year, as government numbers out Thursday proved predictions of its collapse wrong yet again. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said more than 8.8 million people have signed up in the 39 states served by the federal HealthCare.gov website. That compares to 9.2 million last year in the same states — or 96 percent of the previous total. The level exceeds what experts thought was possible after another year of political battles over the Affordable Care Act, not to mention market problems like rising premiums and insurer exits. On top of that, the Trump administration cut enrollment season in half, slashed the ad budget, terminated major payments to insurers, and scaled back grants for consumer counselors.
  
  
• More Than Four in Five Enrolled in Obamacare Are in Trump States Associated Press by Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and Kevin S. Vineys — Americans in states that Donald Trump carried in his march to the White House account for more than four in five of those signed up for coverage under the health care law the president still wants to take down. An Associated Press analysis of new figures from the government found that 7.3 million of the 8.8 million consumers signed up so far for next year come from states Trump won in the 2016 presidential election. The four states with the highest number of sign-ups — Florida, Texas, North Carolina and Georgia, accounting for nearly 3.9 million customers — were all Trump states. "There's politics, and then there's taking care of yourself and your family," said analyst Chris Sloan of the consulting firm Avalere Health.

• Years of Attack Leave Obamacare a More Government-Focused Health Law New York Times by Robert Pear — The Affordable Care Act was conceived as a mix of publicly funded health care and privately purchased insurance, but Republican attacks, culminating this month in the death of a mandate that most Americans have insurance, are shifting the balance, giving the government a larger role than Democrats ever anticipated. And while President Trump insisted again on Tuesday that the health law was "essentially" being repealed, what remains of it appears relatively stable and increasingly government-funded. In short, President Barack Obama's signature domestic achievement is becoming more like what conservatives despise — government-run health care — thanks in part to Republican efforts that are raising premiums for people without government assistance and allowing them to skirt coverage.
  
  
• Health Care Fights Could Complicate 2018 Funding Deal The Hill by Nathaniel Weixel — A host of health care issues could complicate a deal to fund the government in what will be a hectic January for Congress. Lawmakers agreed to a short-term continuing resolution that funds the government through Jan. 19. When they return, they will face a number of dicey issues with two weeks to reach a new full-year funding deal. Among the big issues are finding a path to long-term funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program and community health centers, a priority for Democrats. In the Senate, Republicans plan to take up two bills to help shore up Obamacare insurance markets. But that will be a hard sell in the House, where conservatives oppose those measures.
  
  
• Poll: Nearly One-Third of Americans Think Trump Repealed Obamacare The Hill by Rachel Roubein — Nearly one-third of Americans believe President Trump has repealed Obamacare, according to a new The Economist–YouGov poll. Last week, Trump claimed the tax bill — which has since been signed into law — "essentially" repeals the Affordable Care Act. The Republican bill to overhaul the tax system eliminates the fine Americans pay for foregoing health insurance, known as the individual mandate.  More Republicans, 44 percent, believe Trump has repealed Obamacare, compared to the 27 percent of Democrats and 27 percent of independents who believe he has eliminated President Obama's signature health-care law.

Editor: Peter Van Vranken