Late surge in health sign-ups brought in the young

WASHINGTON (AP) — State insurance commissioners say President Barack Obama had some good news during an hourlong meeting at the White House — a surge of younger people signed up for his health care plan as open enrollment season wound down.

Commissioners say the president told them that 35 percent of those signed up are under the age of 35.

Montana's Insurance Commissioner is Monica Lindeen. Lindeen was at the meeting Thursday and says that's "a pretty good number" to help keep the new insurance markets financially healthy. Previously, those enrolling had skewed older.

Obama announced last week that sign-ups topped 7.5 million, beating expectations.

The total number is expected to go even higher, because people who had started applications as of March 31 were given until this past Tuesday to finish them.