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• Muller and Scharpe said they expect an increase in inquiries about how to sign up during the rest of the month.
• Muller said Avera is keeping information services in Yankton, Mitchell, Aberdeen and Sioux Falls open and is accommodating weekend and evening appointments. Scharpe said his group plans to host a large enrollment event next week at a church in downtown Bismarck.
• Nationally, total sign-ups reached 4.2 million, according to the figures released by the Department of Health and Human Services. The administration hasn't said how many of those people were previously uninsured or how many have paid their premiums.
• The health care law requires nearly every American to have insurance coverage or pay a tax penalty of either $95 or 1 percent of income, whichever is higher.
• Those who miss the March 31 deadline will have to wait until November to sign up for coverage; those benefits would start in January 2015. People will also be eligible to sign up for coverage during the rest of 2014 under a handful of circumstances, such as the loss of a job.
• Medicaid coverage is available any time during the year to those who qualify.
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• SD House approves bill to support projects
• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- The South Dakota House has approved a bill that would spend about $2.5 million to support a water project, protect an air base and support a research project.
• The bill would provide $1 million to help build the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System. Another $500,000 would be used to make changes in land use around Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City to help protect against any federal efforts to close military bases.
• The measure also would provide $500,000 for airport improvements and another $464,000 to support research at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology into the use of underground shale formations.
• Some lawmakers complained that the spending measure was unveiled too late and never had a public hearing.
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