Obamacare repeal talk may be behind signup surge

The new year may be looking brighter for Obamacare insurers after a surge in sign-ups for 2017 coverage, with experts noting that Republican talk of repealing the healthcare law is sparking some of the increase.

About 6.4 million people had signed up for Obamacare as of Dec. 19, 400,000 more sign-ups than during the same period last year. The surge of sign-ups comes as the Republican-controlled Congress has put repealing the healthcare law at the top of its agenda when it returns next month.