New Jersey fell just short of a recent health insurance exchange enrollment target, and a bigger deadline looms at the end of the month.

Laptop displays the HealthCare.gov website
Laptop displays the HealthCare.gov website (Joe Raedle, Getty Images)
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According to data released Tuesday by the federal Health and Human Services Department, more than 74,000 residents had selected a plan by March 1.

The goal set last year for enrollment in the federally run insurance marketplace was nearly 77,000.

Officials hope the state has 96,000 people registered by the end of this month. Just under one-fourth of those with plans in New Jersey are in the 18 to 34 age group.

Uninsured residents have until March 31 to sign up for their coverage to start immediately. The next open enrollment period will not be until the fall.

 

(Copyright 2014 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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