Big jump in Obama health enrollment numbers

New figures from the Department of Health and Human Services show over 2.1 million people signed up for private health insurance under the Obama health law, as officials trumpeted the big surge in signups in the last month of 2013.

"Americans are finding quality affordable coverage in the Marketplace," Sebelius said in a statement, as she said the jump in signups showed the improvement in a system that had been beset by the bungled roll out of healthcare.gov.

The almost 2.2 million signups is about a third less than the Obama Administration's original goal of 3.3 million by the end of the 2013 - but the figures show dramatic increases in enrollment in December.

The White House goal is to have 7 million people enrolled for private health coverage by the end of March.

Figures provided by the Obama Administration show that enrollment was up over 1,000% in North Carolina, Idaho and Michigan.

California remains at the top of the overall list, with just under half a million private health insurance enrollments, followed by Florida, which edged out New York for second place.

With Texas and North Carolina rounding out the first five in terms of enrollment numbers, that means three of the top five are from states with Republican Governors.