While HHS said the number of errors in information forms sent to insurers are now close to zero, insurers say they continue to find errors, especially duplicate enrollments and cancellations from the same consumer with the same time stamp.

“The process they put in place has made a difference, but there are still some data errors that need to be addressed,” said Robert Zirkelbach, spokesman for the trade group America’s Health Insurance Plans. Multiple copies of cancellations and enrollments make it “unclear whether that person is supposed to be enrolled,” he said.

It’s still unclear how much cooperation HHS will get from insurers, who have been asked to extend payment deadlines into January, cover people’s drugs and medical treatment if they are between plans and allow people to sign up later than Dec. 23 to get insurance Jan. 1. Health industry consultant Kip Piper said HHS doesn’t have the authority to enforce what he calls these “political requests.” But HHS said it will consider insurers’ cooperation now when it decides which ones can participate on the insurance exchanges next year.

“They are simultaneously asking insurers to assume the cost and risk of non-payment, taking public credit for it, and threatening insurers with loss of business if they don’t comply,” said Piper, a former government and insurance industry official.