President makes 'symbolic' enrollment in ObamaCare, picks least expensive plan

President Obama enrolled over the weekend for insurance under the Affordable Care Act, the White House said Monday.

The president, who is vacationing in Hawaii with his family, was enrolled in ObamaCare by his staff.

White House officials said staffers enrolled the president through the District of Columbia exchange and needed to make the transaction in person -- not through the website -- because his personal information is not readily available in the government databases used to verify identities.

Obama was enrolled before the midnight Monday deadline to get coverage starting Jan. 1, ended speculation about when he would enroll.

The White House said the president's enrollment was “symbolic” because he is among the 85 percent of Americans who already get their health insurance through an employer and that he receives health care from the military -- like previous presidents.

“But he was pleased to participate in a plan as a show of support for these marketplaces, which are providing quality, affordable health care options to more than a million people,” the White House said.

Obama personally selected the so-called Bronze Plan, White House officials said. It is the least expensive of the four ObamaCare plans, costing less than $400 a month, but comes with the highest deductible and co-payments. He did not sign up his family.