Maryland: QHPs up 2,400, Medicaid up 10.7K, finally breaking out Paid/Unpaid

Yeesh! Another crazy day...a third update today, this time for Maryland. The numbers aren't anything exciting (QHPs up about 2,400, Medicaid up a more impressive 10.7K), but every bit helps. The more noteworthy bit of news, however, is shown below--Maryland is finally jumping on the "How many are PAID???" bandwagon and joining 6 other states in breaking out their payment numbers.

While the percentage doesn't look good on the surface (only 54% of the total), the press release is careful to make the same point that I've been making for weeks now: If a big chunk of the unpaid enrollments aren't even due yet, it's rather silly to wring your hands about people not having paid their premiums yet.

This isn't to say that some people aren't going to be deadbeats/try to stick the insurance companies with the bill, but we won't know that until a month or two after a particular policy starts coverage...and as this is a rolling number, the "unpaid" numbers have to be attached to the date that they start coverage before they do us much good. So far Vermont is the only state to have done this, and their results are quite telling.

In any event, I'm splitting MD's QHP total the way I've done for the 6 other states that are breaking out that data.

Through February 22, 35,636 Marylanders have chosen to enroll in private health plans through Maryland Health Connection.

Carriers are receiving first premium payments from new enrollees and notifying Maryland Health Connection on a rolling basis. Payment deadlines have not yet passed for many of those individuals who have chosen plans through Maryland Health Connection. According to data received so far from carriers, 19,068 individuals who chose plans through Maryland Health Connection have paid the first premium for their policies. Based on information reported nationally, the rate of premium payment in Maryland appears to be similar to other areas.

95,889 Marylanders signed up through the Primary Adult Care (PAC) program were automatically enrolled in Medicaid coverage on January 1, 2014, and now have full Medicaid coverage.  As of February 25, 2014, an additional 71,449 individuals were newly enrolled in Medicaid effective January 1.