Washington Healthplanfinder released a comprehensive data report that provides more detailed information regarding Washington state residents who newly enrolled in health coverage from Oct. 1 to Jan. 31.
The report includes information about enrollees including their age ranges, enrollment by county and even enrollments by health plan “Metal Level” such as Gold, Silver and Bronze. Some of the key takeaways from the report include:
Qualified Health Plans See Healthy Month Over Month Growth: Enrollments in Qualified Health Plans (private health plans) saw an increase from 67,198 in the month of December to 89,243 in the month of January, a 33 percent increase in enrollment.
Young Adult Enrollment Increases Slightly to 22 Percent: More than 20,000 young adults between the ages of 18 to 34 have enrolled in private health plans since Oct. 1. An additional 98,536 young adults have enrolled in Washington Apple Health (Medicaid). The Exchange continues to ramp up outreach to young adults and families through new advertisements, strategic partnerships with hockey and roller derby teams, and ongoing promotion at Live Nation concerts.
Number of Calls Handled at Customer Support Center Continues to Rise: With the ongoing addition of customer support center staff, the call center was able to handle 106,000 calls in the month of January as compared to 66,714 calls in December. Staff continue to be added and trained to decrease wait time.
The Majority who Qualify for Financial Help Are Under 250 Percent of FPL: More than 53 percent of individuals who qualify for private health plans with a tax credit to lower their monthly premiums are under 250 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). For an individual, this equals $29,175 a year or $59,625 a year for a family of four. More than 20 percent of enrollees are between 300 to 400 percent of the FPL, while the remainder did not apply for a tax credit.
Medicaid note: Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) does not have an open enrollment period. Individuals and families will be able to apply and complete their renewals via Healthplanfinder throughout the year. Questions about Healthplanfinder should be directed to the toll-free Customer Support Center at 1-855-WAFINDER; Apple Health questions can be directed to the toll-free hot line at 1-800-562-3022 or emailed to AskMedicaid@hca.wa.gov
For more information about Washington Healthplanfinder and to enroll in health coverage, please visit their website.
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.
