BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho officials are watching insurance exchange enrollment figures closely, because they'll be critical to meeting Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's promise the state can operate its own health care marketplace cheaper than a federal exchange.

Since Oct. 1, just 338 people selected policies via Your Health Idaho, whose projected operating budget through next June is $12.8 million. About half is for marketing efforts that have been delayed. Idaho is levying a 1.5 percent fee on each exchange policy, to raise money to cover Your Health Idaho operations come 2016.

In convincing the 2013 Legislature to back a state-based exchange, Otter pledged Idaho's fee would be less than the 3.5 percent charged policies sold via the federal exchange. Your Health Idaho director Amy Dowd says her focus is beating the federal rate.

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