Health exchange enrollment drops in NM

New Mexico's state-run health insurance exchange has sharply reduced its enrollment expectations for this year by about half. 

Mike Nunez, interim chief executive officer of the New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange, says problems with the federal healthcare.gov website slowed the state's efforts to promote enrollment. 

The state had expected up to 83,000 people to register this year, according to a 2011 study cited in an application for a grant under the Affordable Care Act. Nunez now estimates only between 40,000 and 50,000 will enroll. 

The exchange announced Thursday it was awarded a $69.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

 The first open-enrollment period for individual policies ends March 31.

Health exchange enrollment drops in NM