Medicaid Is Health Overhaul’s Early Success Story

WASHINGTON (AP) — Medicaid is the underdog of government health care programs. But it's turning into a rare early success story for President Barack Obama's technologically challenged health overhaul.

Medicaid has signed up 444,000 people in the six weeks since open enrollment began. That's according to Avalere Health, a market analysis firm that compiled data from 10 states.

Meanwhile, private plans offered through troublesome online markets are expected to have enrolled a much smaller number of people.

The Obama administration plans to release October enrollment statistics this week, but publicly available figures already provide a contrast between a robust start for Medicaid expansion and lukewarm early interest in new, government-subsidized private plans offered separately under the law.