District of Columbia: 16.5K QHPs thru 11/13; down 6.8% year over year

The numbers are several weeks out of date, but it's better than nothing: Here's the DC Health Link's official 2019 ACA Open Enrollment report through November 13.

Things weren't looking great as of two weeks in: Total enrollments were down 6.8% (1,202 people) year over year as of the same date. We'll have to see whether things have picked up since then.

As with most other state-based exchanges, the numbers for both years include auto-renewals, which means the vast bulk of 2019 enrollments are likely already baked in. Last year's final tally was 19,289; DC had already reached 85% of that as of 11/13.

DC's report also includes all sorts of wonky demographic breakout data, and even closes with currently effectuated numbers for both the individual and small business (SHOP) markets. Remember, DC's SHOP market is unusually high (especially compared to the individual market) because the ACA requires all members of Congress and their staff to enroll using it if they want their 72% FEHB subsidy.

Like New Jersey, DC has also reinstated the ACA's individual mandate penalty...but also like New Jersey, part of the problem with DC enrollment might be that not enough people know the mandate is still in place.

The exchange website does have a listing for the mandate penalty in their FAQ...

Get Covered. Stay Covered.

DC'S INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY REQUIREMENT

A DC law begins in 2019 that requires residents to have qualifying health coverage, get an exemption, or pay a penalty on their DC taxes.

Pay a tax penalty

Find out about the penalty for not having qualifying health coverage or an exemption.

(learn more)

...however, as of this writing there's no hint of the penalty being mentioned on the home page of the exchange website, and even when you go to the FAQ it's sort of buried...you have to click "For Consumers" at the bottom, then scroll halfway down the page to find the question about the penalty.

Hopefully they'll be more proactive about letting DC residents know in the final week and a half.