27 percent of January online marketplace enrollees ages 18-34

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Twenty-seven percent of U.S. adults who selected health insurance on the federal online marketplace in January were ages 18 to 34, officials say.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said enrollment in the health insurance marketplace rose further last month, with a 53 percent increase in overall enrollment over the prior three-month reporting period, and young adult enrollment outpacing all other age groups combined.

Young adult enrollment grew by 65 percent in January, from 489,460 at the end of December to 807,515 as of Feb. 1, while all other age groups combined grew by 55 percent, Sebelius said.

Nearly 3.3 million U.S. adults enrolled in the health insurance marketplace plans from Oct. 1, 2013, through Feb. 1 -- with January alone accounting for 1.1 million plan selections in state and federal marketplaces.

Of the 3.3 million U.S. adults enrolled, 1.4 million enrolled via the state based online marketplaces and 1.9 million enrolled via the federally facilitated online marketplace, the report said.

For the first time, the report included information on the types of plans selected -- Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum -- distributed across demographic factors such as gender and age.

For example, the report showed 81 percent of young adults ages 18 to 34 selected plans at the Silver metal level.

Of the almost 3.3 million who bought private heath insurance:

-- 55 percent were female and 45 percent male.

-- 31 percent were age 34 and younger.

-- 25 percent were between the ages of 18 and 34.

-- 62 percent selected a Silver plan, while 19 percent selected a Bronze plan.

-- 82 were eligible to receive financial assistance.