Washington Healthplanfinder today announced more than 175,000 residents have enrolled in health coverage since Oct. 1.  Since Nov. 14, enrollments in Qualified Health Plans (private health plans) have increased by nearly 55 percent to more than 18,000 individuals.

Updated enrollment numbers from Oct. 1 to Nov. 28 are included below. Definitions for the status of all applications are now included below.

*Note: These numbers reflect enrollments and applications through Thursday, Nov 28. This week’s Apple Health (Medicaid) enrollment numbers also include the automated transition of 28,034 presumptive SSI and Medical Care Services (MCS) clients who will be eligible under the new adult group on Jan. 1, 2014. Please contact the Health Care Authority for more information regarding this group of enrollees.

Application Status Legend

• Qualified Health Plans: Includes individuals who have selected and submitted payment for a qualified health plan (private health plan). Payments are processed in the month of December.
• Medicaid Newly Eligible/Coverage Jan. 1: Includes newly eligible individuals who have qualified and enrolled in a Medicaid plan under Medicaid expansion.
• Medicaid/Immediate Coverage: Includes individuals who were previously eligible under existing Medicaid requirements as well as Washington Apple Health re-enrollments. Their coverage may begin immediately.
• QHP (Need to Pay): Includes individuals who have completed an application for a Qualified Health Plan that is awaiting payment due by Dec. 23, 2013 for coverage that begins on Jan. 1, 2014.
• In Process: Includes individuals who have started applications or completed applications that need to be finalized.

*The Medicaid enrollment figures include some individuals whose eligibility is being re-determined or renewed as opposed to newly determined. This occurs when individuals and families come to Washington Healthplanfinder to make an application for coverage and are either themselves already enrolled in Medicaid, or perhaps have family members in the program. In these cases, their eligibility is processed under the new modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) standard and they are reflected as new enrollments in the totals above.

For users who are unable to complete an application online at wahealthplanfinder.org, please visit the Washington Healthplanfinder “Quick Tips” page on the Washington Healthplanfinder Status Center.  If children, pregnant women and family Medicaid applicants are unable to complete an application online, they can access a paper application through the Health Care Authority website.

For more information about Washington Healthplanfinder and to enroll in health coverage, please visit www.wahealthplanfinder.org.

CONTACTS

Washington Healthplanfinder, Bethany Frey, (360) 688-7752

Washington Health Care Authority, Jim Stevenson, (360) 725-1915

About Washington Healthplanfinder

Washington Healthplanfinder is a new online marketplace for individuals, families and small businesses in Washington to compare and enroll in health insurance coverage and gain access to tax credits, reduced cost sharing and public programs such as Medicaid. Washington Healthplanfinder began enrolling consumers on Oct. 1, 2013, for health insurance coverage beginning on Jan. 1, 2014. The open enrollment period extends through March 31, 2014.

About the Washington Health Benefit Exchange

The Washington Health Benefit Exchange is a public-private partnership established in accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) with the goal to redefine people’s experience with health care through the creation of a new health insurance marketplace for individuals and small businesses. The Exchange is separate from the state and governed by an independent 11-member board appointed by former Gov. Chris Gregoire in Dec. 2011.

About Health Care Authority

The Health Care Authority includes the two largest state health care purchasing programs – Apple Health (Medicaid) and Public Employees Benefits system, which handles state employee benefits. Under Medicaid expansion, income eligibility guidelines will increase to 138% of the federal poverty level effective Jan. 1, 2014, increasing state Medicaid rolls by an estimated 328,000 individuals.