Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Florida Surpasses California In Obamacare Sign-Ups
The Associated Press: Florida Has Highest Number Of Enrollees Under Health Law
Florida has eclipsed California to become the state with the highest number of consumers buying health coverage through new insurance markets under the Affordable Care Act, according to federal statistics released Wednesday. Florida's roughly 1.6 million enrollees include both first time enrollees and some of the nearly 1 million Floridians who enrolled last year. California led the country last year with 1.2 million consumers, but lagged behind this year with a total of 1.4 million — 300,000 fewer than the state's goal. The state has struggled to target hard-to reach populations including Latinos. (Kennedy, 2/18)
The Washington Post: Maryland Health Exchange’s Second Year Much More Successful Than First
The second year of Maryland’s health insurance marketplace was much more successful than its first. During its second enrollment period, which began Nov. 15 and ended Sunday, the Maryland Health Connection enrolled 119,096 people in private insurance plans and 145,149 in Medicaid, the government-funded insurance program for the poor. The Maryland Health Connection is the state-run system that allows residents to shop for health insurance plans made possible by the federal Affordable Care Act. ... The Web site that Maryland built for [2014] was so technically flawed that it barely functioned for several months, making it difficult for Marylanders to sign up for insurance. During that six-month period, about 63,000 people signed up for private plans. (Johnson, 2/18)
The Associated Press: Maryland Working On Legal Action On Health Exchange Problems
Maryland officials continue to work on recouping money from contractors involved in the state’s badly flawed initial rollout of its health exchange website, the health exchange’s executive director said Wednesday. Carolyn Quattrocki declined to elaborate in a conference call with reporters, saying lawyers have asked her not to go into details. “We are very actively engaged in that effort,” Quattrocki said, adding “we will hear about it at the appropriate time.” (2/18)
California Healthline: Covered California Will 'Easily' Hit Goal
Covered California came close to its stated goal of 500,000 enrollees for its second open enrollment period -- and Tuesday's extension of the deadline until Feb. 22 for "hundreds of thousands" of potential enrollees will certainly push the exchange past its goal, Covered California officials said Tuesday. (Gorn, 2/18)
Georgia Health News: Exchange Enrollment Soars Past Half A Million
Powered by a late surge, Georgia’s enrollment in the 2015 health insurance exchange easily surpassed the half-million mark. Federal officials said Wednesday that 536,929 Georgians selected a plan or were automatically re-enrolled in the state exchange. The Affordable Care Act provides for exchanges in all 50 states, and this is their second year of operation. (Miller, 2/18)
Richmond Times-Dispatch: 384,612 In Virginia Sign Up For Obamacare Plans
More than 384,000 people in Virginia signed up for health plans through the Affordable Care Act marketplace by last Sunday’s open enrollment deadline, surpassing a target set by state officials and consumer advocates. (Smith, 2/18)
The Associated Press: US HHS: Nearly 400,000 Enrolled In Va. For Health Care
Nearly 400,000 Virginians have purchased health care through the government’s health insurance marketplace. The 384,612 consumers signed under the second year of open enrollment or were automatically re-enrolled. The numbers were announced Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2/18)
Arizona Republic: Affordable Care Act Sign-Ups Jump 70% In Arizona
Arizona health insurance sign-ups surged by 70 percent during the Affordable Care Act's second annual enrollment period that ended Sunday, with more than 204,000 Arizona residents either renewing plans or signing up for new coverage, according to preliminary figures. (Alltucker, 2/18)
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: Almost 206,000 Wisconsin Residents Enrolled In Obamacare
Almost 206,0000 people in Wisconsin signed up or were re-enrolled in health plans sold on the marketplace set up under the Affordable Care Act during the second open-enrollment period, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday. (Boulton, 2/18)
