December 2023

Via Access Health CT's News/Press Releases page:

Stats as of December 29, 2023

Qualified Health Plans (QHP):

• QHP Enrollment In 2023 Coverage: 122,656
• 2024 OE Acquisition Summary: 22,678

Medicaid:

• Completed applications/redeterminations processed through the integrated eligibility system: 42,619

It's my understanding that "Acquisition Summary" refers to CT residents who are brand-new enrollees (never enrolled via the exchange before).

The 122.6K figure includes auto-renewals being piled on top of the new/active renewal tally.

By comparison, last year Access Health CT reported enrolling 103,380 people through December 30th (one extra day since Nov. 1st fell on a Tuesday last year); this also included auto-renewals:

• 2023: 103,380 in 60 days (1,723/day)
• 2024: 122,656 in 59 days (2,079/day)

In other words, Connect's ACA exchange has enrolled 20.7% more people per day so far.

via the NJ Dept. of Banking & Insurance:

• NJ residents must enroll by Dec. 31 for coverage starting Jan. 1

• 9 in 10 People Who Enroll Qualify for Savings; Many Pay $10 a Month or Less for Health Coverage

TRENTON — New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance Acting Commissioner Justin Zimmerman today announced that more than 330,000 New Jersey residents signed up for a 2024 health insurance plan through the state’s Official Health Insurance Marketplace, Get Covered New Jersey, in the first five weeks of the Open Enrollment Period that started on November 1, 2023. Total signups have increased compared to the same timeframe last year, as residents continue to take advantage of record levels of financial help available from the State of New Jersey and the federal government and more plan options to choose from. 

Open Enrollment for 2024 health insurance ends January 31st, but residents must enroll in a plan by December 31, 2023 for coverage to take effect on January 1, 2024. 

Via Access Health CT's News/Press Releases page:

Stats as of December 22, 2023

Qualified Health Plans (QHP):

• QHP Enrollment In 2023 Coverage: 121,665
• 2024 OE Acquisition Summary: 21,578

Medicaid:

• Completed applications/redeterminations processed through the integrated eligibility system: 40,704

It's my understanding that "Acquisition Summary" refers to CT residents who are brand-new enrollees (never enrolled via the exchange before).

The 121.6K figure includes auto-renewals being piled on top of the new/active renewal tally.

By comparison, last year Access Health CT reported enrolling 102,558 people through December 22nd (one extra day since Nov. 1st fell on a Tuesday last year); this also included auto-renewals:

• 2023: 102,558 in 52 days (1,972/day)
• 2024: 121,665 in 51 days (2,386/day)

In other words, Connect's ACA exchange has enrolled 21% more people per day so far.

Just 3 days ago, I posted a revised 2024 ACA Open Enrollment Period projection, in which I upgraded my prior projection from 18.5 million Americans signing up for either Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) or Basic Health Plans (BHPs) combined nationally to over 19 million doing so. That 18.5M projection was itself a drop from my original projection of 19M QHPs + BHPs combined from a month earlier.

I delved into the various reasons for both my original and revised projections, but the bottom line is that I figured it would end up being somewhere in the neighborhood of 19 - 19.5 million, give or take, likely broken out something like ~18 million QHPs plus another ~1.3 million BHPs in New York & Minnesota only.

I even included 20 million as an outside possibility.

Via the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):

HealthCare.gov Enrollment Exceeds 15 Million, Surpassing Previous Years’ Milestones

Biden-Harris Administration encourages everyone who needs affordable, quality health insurance to visit HealthCare.gov and sign up for coverage by the January 16 final deadline.

via the Washington HealthPlan Finder:

Via MNsure:

More Than 132k Minnesotans Will Have a Full Year of Quality, Comprehensive Health Insurance in 2024

A new early sign-up record as MNsure celebrates its ten-year anniversary

ST. PAUL, Minn.—MNsure is pleased to report that 132,789 Minnesotans signed up for 2024 health insurance through Minnesota’s official health insurance marketplace between November 1 and December 15, 2023.

“Over 132,000 Minnesotans will welcome the new year with the peace of mind and security of a full year of high-quality, comprehensive coverage through MNsure,” said MNsure CEO Libby Caulum.

This incredible start to MNsure’s annual enrollment period sets a new early enrollment record for the marketplace. Private health plan sign-ups have increased by 11% compared to the same time last year. With enhanced federal tax credits available only through MNsure, eligible families will save $6,750 in 2024, on average, and spend 5% less on private health plan premiums than they did this year.

via CoverME.gov, Maine's state-based ACA exchange:

Plan Selection Snapshot

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of the Health Insurance Marketplace (OHIM) will release biweekly updates on plan selections through CoverME.gov, Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.  

Plan selections provide a snapshot of activity by new and returning consumers who have selected a plan for 2024. “Plan selections” become “enrollments” once consumers have paid their first monthly premium to begin insurance. These numbers are subject to change as consumers may modify or cancel plans after their initial selection.   

The deadline to select a plan for coverage beginning January 1, 2024 is December 15, 2023. Consumers who select a plan between December 16, 2023 and January 16, 2024 will have coverage beginning February 1, 2024. 

CoverME.gov Activity Through December 12, 2023

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has been a bit odd when it comes to announcing new states joining the 12-month postpartum Medicaid coverage approval. Sometimes they issue a fully-detailed press release, as they did with Missouri a month ago; other times, like today, they just sort of throw a quick mention into a larger "roundup" post:

CMS Approves Postpartum Coverage Extensions for Nebraska & Mississippi

BeWell NM, New Mexico's state-based ACA exchange, has launched a very handy new Enrollment Data portal which includes plenty of info for a data hound like myself to pore over. The initial 2024 Open Enrollment Period numbers are impressive...but also a bit misleading if you don't know how the exchange enters data.

First, the top line numbers (as of 12/14/23):

• Number of enrolled consumers: 50,442
• Consumers enrolled in Medical coverage: 49,765
• Consumers enrolled in Dental coverage: 12,321

While dental coverage is also important, standalone dental plans aren't considered Qualified Health Plans (QHPs); it's the "Medical Coverage" which is the key number here.

Also, the total number above may look confusing, but most of the Medical & Dental coverage enrollees overlap:

• Medical Only: 38,121
• Dental Only: 677
• Medical + Dental: 11,644

For comparison, last year BeWell NM reported enrolling just 37,056 peple (including auto-renewals) through December 17th.

This breaks out to:

via the Maine Governor's Office website:

Friday is the last day to enroll to ensure coverage for January 2024

Belgrade, MAINE – During a visit to Belgrade Regional Health Center today, Governor Mills reminded Maine residents who lack affordable health coverage that Friday, December 15, 2023, is the deadline to sign up through CoverME.gov, Maine’s health insurance marketplace, for an affordable health plan that starts at the beginning of the new year.

The Governor urged Maine people to act to prevent gaps in coverage that could result in barriers to health care or unaffordable bills. Maine people who sign up by 11:59 p.m. Friday will have coverage effective on January 1, 2024.

Consumers who enroll after Friday’s deadline will miss coverage for January 2024 but – if they sign up by January 16 – will qualify for health insurance that takes effect on February 1, 2024.

April 2023:

Via the New York Times a few days ago:

The Supreme Court issued a decision on Friday evening that maintained the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of a commonly used abortion pill while an appeal moves forward, the latest development in a fast-moving legal battle that followed a lower court’s ruling that ordered the drug pulled off the market.

Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. had paused the lower court’s ruling on the pill, mifepristone, but that freeze had been set to expire at midnight. The justices issued their decision about five hours before the deadline.

via 95.3 WIKI:

Indianapolis – The Indiana Department of Insurance is issuing a warning to Hoosiers seeking health insurance coverage through the Federal Marketplace. The department advises caution regarding websites offering rewards like debit or cash cards in exchange for signing up through them. These “lead generating” websites collect users’ personal information and may provide inaccurate information about insurance coverage. The department urges Indiana residents to exercise skepticism regarding third-party websites promoting marketplace health plans and incentives. 

“Consumers should verify information directly through official marketplace resources before entering any personal details or selecting a plan,” stated Alexandria Peck, Indiana Department of Insurance Chief Deputy Commissioner of Compliance. If you suspect fraud, contact the Indiana Attorney General’s office.

via NY State of Health:

• Enrollees in Public Health Insurance Programs Must Take Steps to Renew their Coverage for 2024

• New Yorkers Shopping for Qualified Health Plans Can Enroll by December 15 for
  Coverage Starting January 1

  ALBANY, N.Y. (December 8, 2023) – NY State of Health, the state's official health plan Marketplace, is working together with food pantries to help New Yorkers fight food insecurity and help them access high-quality, low-cost health insurance for the seventh consecutive holiday season. NY State of Health’s annual open enrollment period for Qualified Health Plans started November 16 and consumers who enroll by December 15 will have health coverage starting January 1, 2024.

For ten years now, I've had Google Alerts set up to send me links to stories about the Affordable Care Act using various commonly-used phrases like "health exchanges" and such. Normally these bring up the most recent articles about the law, but last night one of them included a surprising link to a Reuters article from...March 2013:

Washington could wind up running more health exchanges - official

March 14, 2013

...The Obama administration has given 17 of the 50 states conditional approval to set up online exchanges where working families would purchase private plans at subsidized rates. The remaining 33 states will all have federally run markets, at least in the early years of the coming reform era.

But Gary Cohen, who spearheads exchange implementation for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said some of the approved states face hurdles that could require Washington to step in with federal exchanges before open enrollment starts on Oct. 1.

Via Access Health CT's News/Press Releases page:

Stats as of December 8, 2023

Qualified Health Plans (QHP):

• QHP Enrollment In 2023 Coverage: 106,415
• 2024 OE Acquisition Summary: 12,636

Medicaid:

• Completed applications/redeterminations processed through the integrated eligibility system: 33,967

It's my understanding that "Acquisition Summary" refers to CT residents who are brand-new enrollees (never enrolled via the exchange before).

The 106.4K figure includes auto-renewals being piled on top of the new/active renewal tally.

By comparison, last year Access Health CT reported enrolling 93,479 people through December 8th (one extra day since Nov. 1st fell on a Tuesday last year); this also included auto-renewals:

• 2023: 93,479 in 38 days (2,460/day)
• 2024: 106,415 in 37 days (2,876/day)

In other words, Connect's ACA exchange has enrolled 16.9% more people per day so far.

BeWell NM, New Mexico's state-based ACA exchange, has launched a very handy new Enrollment Data portal which includes plenty of info for a data hound like myself to pore over. The initial 2024 Open Enrollment Period numbers are impressive...but also a bit misleading if you don't know how the exchange enters data.

First, the top line numbers (as of 12/05/23):

• Number of enrolled consumers: 48,968
• Consumers enrolled in Medical coverage: 48,327
• Consumers enrolled in Dental coverage: 11,821

While dental coverage is also important, standalone dental plans aren't considered Qualified Health Plans (QHPs); it's the "Medical Coverage" which is the key number here.

Also, the total number above may look confusing, but most of the Medical & Dental coverage enrollees overlap:

 Earlier today I posted the latest official above-the-fold numbers for the 2024 ACA Open Enrollment Period as reported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):

...The graph below shows how these numbers have increased since the same time period last year. I've had to adjust slightly for the fact that there's one fewer day included for both the federal exchange (32 days vs. 33) and the state exchanges (25 days vs. 26).

I've also had to adjust for the fact that Virginia moved from the federal exchange to its own state-based exchange this year, which is further complicated by CMS reporting 5 weeks for the federal exchange but only 4 weeks for state-based exchange. Otherwise, the subtotals are accurate, while the new/returning breakout for 2023 are estimates,but should still be pretty close:

via Pennie, Pennsylvania's state-based ACA exchange:

Action required by December 15th for Pennsylvanians seeking health coverage. To get the lowest costs on high-quality coverage, visit Pennie, PA’s health insurance marketplace.

Watch press conference, including customer testimonials here.

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – December 5, 2023 – Today, Pennsylvania leadership held a virtual press conference to highlight the upcoming deadline of December 15th to enroll in health coverage for 2024 through Pennie.

Pennie is Pennsylvania’s official health insurance marketplace (pennie.com) and the only place where Pennsylvanians can get financial savings to reduce the cost of coverage and care. Currently, 9 in 10 enrollees qualify and save over $500 a month on average.

Right now, during the annual Open Enrollment period, it is the only time of year to apply, shop and enroll in coverage from the top insurance companies with financial savings.

Upcoming Deadline

 As regular readers know, every year I pore over hundreds of annual health insurance policy rate filings from carriers participating in the individual and small group markets, attempting to run weighted average rate changes on a state-by-state level. I then compile all 50 states (+DC) into a national weighted average rate change table.

I generally do this twice for every state: First, over the spring and summer, I crunch the numbers for the carriers preliminary rate change requests. These are submitted to the state regulatory authorities (or in a few cases, federal regulators), who run their own actuarial analysis and then either approve the requests as is, lower the requested rates or (in a few cases) even raise rates more than requested, since part of the regulators job is to ensure that the insurance carriers have enough cash flow to actually pay their claims over the upcoming year.

via the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):

• In August 2023, 89,994,594 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP.
  • 83,029,628 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid in August 2023, a decrease of 1,488,269 individuals (1.8%) from July 2023.
  • 6,964,966 individuals were enrolled in CHIP in August 2023, a decrease of 30,312 individuals (0.4%) from July 2023.
• As of August 2023, enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP has decreased by 3,862,970 individuals since March 2023, the final month of the Medicaid continuous enrollment condition under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.
  • Medicaid enrollment has decreased by 3,699,342 individuals (4.3%).
  • CHIP enrollment has decreased by 163,628 individuals (2.3%).
• Between February 2020 and March 2023, enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP increased by 22,982,495 individuals (32.4%) to 93,857,564.
  • Medicaid enrollment increased by 22,649,177 individuals (35.3%).
  • CHIP enrollment increased by 333,318 individuals (4.9%)

via CoverME.gov, Maine's state-based ACA exchange:

Plan Selection Snapshot

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of the Health Insurance Marketplace (OHIM) will release biweekly updates on plan selections through CoverME.gov, Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace.  

Plan selections provide a snapshot of activity by new and returning consumers who have selected a plan for 2024. “Plan selections” become “enrollments” once consumers have paid their first monthly premium to begin insurance. These numbers are subject to change as consumers may modify or cancel plans after their initial selection.   

The deadline to select a plan for coverage beginning January 1, 2024 is December 15, 2023. Consumers who select a plan between December 16, 2023 and January 16, 2024 will have coverage beginning February 1, 2024. 

CoverME.gov Activity Through November 28, 2023