Maryland: Holy Guacamole! 80K QHPs!!

BREAKING:

More Than 136,000 Marylanders Have Enrolled for Jan. 1 Coverage in State’s Health Insurance Marketplace

December 19th, 2014

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor O’Malley announced today that Maryland Health Connection, the state-based health insurance marketplace for individuals, families and small businesses, enrolled 136,685 individuals from the start of open enrollment onNov. 15 to last night’s deadline for coverage that begins Jan. 1.

That total includes 79,987 people signed up for private Qualified Health Plans (QHPs). More than three-quarters of QHP enrollees, or 61,448, are eligible for an Advanced Premium Tax Credit (APTC) — upfront financial assistance to reduce their monthly insurance premiums. An additional 56,698 have enrolled in Medicaid since Nov. 15 through Maryland Health Connection. Open enrollment continues through Feb. 15, 2015.

...The total QHP enrollments during the first 34 days of this 90-day state insurance marketplace nearly matches the total 81,091 QHP enrollments during the first year of the marketplace, which had a six-month enrollment period. Yesterday alone, 12,623 Marylanders enrolled; it took about six weeks to reach that mark a year ago. Nearly one-third of enrollees this year are between 18 and 34 years old.

NOTE: I was confused at first about the 81K figure from last spring, since they had only hit 67,757 total QHPs thru 4/19/14, but then I noted the "during the first year" clarifier. 81K includes the off-season enrollments for major life changes through the end of September. That just makes hitting 80K yesterday all the more impressive!

Using my own benchmark comparison (the 67,757 figure from last April), that means Maryland is already outpacing their 2014 total by 18%. I see no reason why they shouldn't be able to hit the HHS Dept's estimate of around 88K QHPs by 2/15 (30% higher), and the 101K estimate (50% higher) that I have for them should be achievable, possibly higher.