Alaska says 1,000 people signed up for health care

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – The Alaska health department says it has enrolled more than 1,000 people in health care coverage in the first two weeks of the newly expanded Medicaid program.

The Alaska Dispatch News reports that state officials are projecting that 20,000 low-income residents will sign up for the expanded Medicaid program in its first year. Expanded enrollment began Sept. 1 after the Alaska Supreme Court refused to temporarily block the expansion, which Gov. Bill Walker announced without approval of the Legislature.

Alaska Department of Health and Social Services spokeswoman Sarana Schell says there has been a steady stream of applications for the last two weeks.

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 17.2 percent of Alaskans were uninsured last year.