Back on November 5th, just a few days into the 2024 Open Enrollment Period, I did some back-of-the-math number crunching and concluded that the odds were pretty good that total 2024 OEP ACA enrollment (including both exchange-based Qualified Health Plans, or QHPs, as well as enrollment in Basic Health Plans (BHPs) in New York & Minnesota only) would break 19 million people for the first time in the ACA's history.
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.
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.
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.
Apply by Dec. 15 to have insurance starting Jan. 1, or by Jan. 15 for a health plan beginning Feb. 1
Washingtonians who need health insurance coverage for 2024 can shop for plans and may gain access to federal and state subsidies on wahealthplanfinder.org, now through Jan. 15.
People who pick a plan before midnight on Dec. 15 will have coverage starting on Jan. 1, 2024.
OLYMPIA, Wash. – The deadline to enroll in a 2024 health plan through Washington Healthplanfinder with a Jan. 1 start date is approaching fast. All Washingtonians, regardless of immigration status, can visit waheathplanfinder.org by midnight on Dec. 15 to shop, compare and sign-up for a health or dental plan for 2024. Help through the Customer Support Center will be available from 7:30 a.m. to midnight on Dec. 15.
Action required by Dec. 15 for Pennsylvanians seeking health coverage that will start Jan. 1, 2024.
Pennsylvanians are encouraged to visit Pennie, PA’s health insurance marketplace, to get the lowest costs on high-quality coverage.
Harrisburg, PA — Today, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis joined Pennsylvania Insurance Department Commissioner Mike Humphreys, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh, Pennie Executive Director Devon Trolley and community health experts for a news conference at the Hamilton Health Center in Harrisburg to remind Pennsylvanians of Pennie’s first open enrollment deadline, Dec. 15, 2023, which is the last day to enroll in health coverage that will start Jan. 1, 2024.
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.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — MNsure, Minnesota’s official health insurance marketplace, is encouraging Minnesotans who need health insurance for 2024 to finish their enrollment now and not wait for the last days before the December 15 deadline to sign up. MNsure’s Contact Center is open Saturday, December 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturdays historically have lower call volumes and shorter wait times.
“Comprehensive coverage through MNsure helps protect your family from the unexpected, like high medical bills from an illness you can’t anticipate,” said MNsure CEO Libby Caulum. “Signing up for a full year of health insurance through MNsure today is one of the greatest gifts you can give your family.”
As I noted in the prior entry, QHP enrollment is running ahead of last year so far in 45 states so far, with it running more than 50% higher in over a dozen of them and more than twice as high in Mississippi.
Another way of looking at this is to compare the confirmed current QHP enrollment in every state as of the most recent data (12/02/23 for HC.gov states; 11/25/23 for SBM states) against the final total QHP enrollment as of the end of the 2023 Open Enrollment Period.
This is obviously isn't a fair comparison since there's still a full 40 days left for people to enroll and because auto-renewals still have to be added to the federal exchange states. However, it's still interesting to take a look.
For the SBM states, I've included their auto-renewals as reported in either the CMS snapshot report or, in a few cases, even more recent combined enrollment data from the SBMs themselves.
