More than 238,000 Californians have joined Covered California’s health insurance exchange as of Jan. 2.

With years of budget woes fading in the rearview mirror, Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday unveiled the first draft of the state's next budget -- which includes a proposal for a new tax on health care plans that would prevent a $1.1 billion cutoff of federal funds.

The Obama administration wasn’t able to ensure that all tax-credit payments made to insurers under the health law in 2014 were on behalf of consumers who had paid their premiums, according to a federal oversight agency.

Seeking a strong showing in President Barack Obama's last year in office, the administration said Thursday 11.3 million people have enrolled for health law coverage with three weeks still left in the sign-up season.

The House on Wednesday passed legislation that would repeal much of ObamaCare and defund Planned Parenthood for one year, sending the measure to President Obama’s desk.

Enrollment through the state's health insurance exchange was robust ahead of a key deadline. More than 72,600 Nevadans signed up for a Nevada Health Link plan between Nov. 1 and Saturday, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.