Selina Simmons-Duffin

But she says the numbers aren't final.

They show how many people auto-renewed or selected a plan, which is basically like putting it in a shopping cart online.

It doesn't show how many people paid their premium, and premiums are sky high compared to last year for a lot of people.

Cox also said some people may have signed up hoping Congress would make a deal to revive the enhanced subsidies that make premium costs so affordable.

But how likely is that?

Well, there was a big boost to momentum when the House passed a bipartisan extension earlier this month, but talks in the Senate seem to have slowed down and Republican senators involved in the talks seem to acknowledge that Trump releasing this plan the day open enrollment ended sort of takes the wind out of those sails.

Although Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, for one, says she is not giving up.

She told reporters on Thursday after Trump's plan came out, quote, I don't think it's too late to try to salvage something.

January 15th is the last day to sign up for coverage during open enrollment in the federal marketplace.

Some state-based marketplaces like California, D.C., and New Jersey have extended the deadline until the end of January.

Premium costs are double on average because the federal government is putting much less money into subsidies this year.

A bipartisan group of senators is working on a deal to bring the enhanced subsidies back, but they weren't able to do that before the end of open enrollment.

Government data shows signups for ACA plans are down for the first time in five years.

22.8 million people have picked a plan or auto-renewed so far.

Selina Simmons-Duffin, NPR News, Washington.

This is NPR.

Based on a Department of Justice memo, the VA confirmed to NPR it has put in place a new policy this week where abortion and abortion counseling is banned except as, quote, life-saving treatment.

That's a reversal of a policy during the Biden administration that allowed access in cases of rape and health risks.

Kayla Williams is an Army veteran and the former director of the Center for Women Veterans at VA.

She also notes that women veterans are at increased risk of PTSD, which can cause worse pregnancy outcomes.